Behind the Facade

7.8
  • Genre: CrimeComedy
  • Run time: 90 min
  • Premiere: 1939. March 14.

In the elevator of two large Parisian buildings, a telegraph operator discovers the body of an elderly woman, Madame Mathieu, the owner of both buildings. Boucheron, the local superintendent, is dispatched to investigate, along with his rival, Inspector Lambert of the "Sûreté". To solve the enigma, they scour staircases and corridors, visiting every floor of both buildings, courtyard and facade. Their gruff rivalry allows them to complement each other in discovering who committed the crime among a gallery of characters, humble or rich, who all have something to be ashamed of... A rare, fast-paced, picturesque comedy set against the backdrop of a police mystery.

Discover

Lucien Baroux

Commissioner Boucheron, district police officer

Jacques Baumer

Inspector Lambert of the Sûreté

Jules Berry

Alfredo d'Avila, dancer of these ladies

Gaby Morlay

Gaby Valrose, minister's lover

Elvira Popescu

Mrs. Rameau, wife of an industrialist and mistress of Alfredo

Michel Simon

Picking, knife-throwing artist

André Lefaur

Mr. Corbeau, kleptomaniac

Gaby Sylvia

Madeleine Martin, in love with André

Andrex

André Laurent, bank cashier, lover of Madeleine

Simone Berriau

Lydia, singer at “Perroquet”, mistress of the President

Erich von Stroheim

Eric, German naturalized French

Betty Stockfeld

English, Albert's companion, Eric's mistress

Jacques Dumesnil

Albert Durant, stockbroker and poker player

Missia

Joséphine, chicken trainer, wife of Picking

Paul Faivre

Concierge of the two buildings

Aimé Clariond

Judge Bernier, President of the Court of Appeal

Raymond Segard

Robert Bernier, eldest son of the President

Marcel Orluc

Gérard Bernier, youngest son of the President

Marguerite Moreno

Owner of the "Perroquet" and the festivities upstairs

Gabrielle Dorziat

Mrs. Bernier, wife of the President

Jean Daurand

Telegraphist who discovered the corpse

Robert Ozanne

Brigadier

Julien Carette

Soldier, confined in the room of a “country”

Elmire Vautier

Marie, Lydia's dresser

Claude Sainval

Gaby's gigolo

Raymone

Madame Mathieu's maid

Jean Joffre

Mr. Martin, blind, father of Madeleine

Lise Courbet

Paulette

Marcel Simon

Jules, government minister and Gaby's lover

Georges Bever

Taxi driver (uncredited)

Georges Malkine

Taxi driver (uncredited)

Rivers Cadet

Agent (uncredited)

Franck Maurice

Agent (uncredited)

Robert Moor

Agent (uncredited)

Jean Wiener

Pianist of the “Perroquet” (uncredited)

Yves Mirande

Bum on the bench (uncredited)

Roger Doucet

(uncredited)

Hélène Flouest

(uncredited)

Henri Nassiet

(uncredited)

Art

Louis Demasure

Set Supervisor

Lucien Aguettand

Set Decoration

Camera

Robert Juillard

Camera Operator

Victor Arménise

Camera Operator

Jacques Robin

Assistant Camera

Jean Joffre

Set Photographer

Costume & Make-Up

Igor Keldich

Makeup Artist

Crew

Directing

Yves Mirande

Director

Jacques Henri-Robert

Assistant Director

Editing

Marie Le Bars

Assistant Editor

Production

Robert Vernay

Administration

Lucien Pinoteau

General Manager

Sound

Robert Ivonnet

Sound Engineer

André Gailhard

Original Music Composer

Writing

Georges Lacombe

Co-Writer

Yves Mirande

Dialogue

Max Kolpé

Co-Writer

Art

Louis Demasure

Set Supervisor

Lucien Aguettand

Set Decoration

Camera

Robert Juillard

Camera Operator

Victor Arménise

Camera Operator

Jacques Robin

Assistant Camera

Jean Joffre

Set Photographer

Costume & Make-Up

Igor Keldich

Makeup Artist

Crew

Directing

Yves Mirande

Director

Jacques Henri-Robert

Assistant Director

Editing

Marie Le Bars

Assistant Editor

Production

Robert Vernay

Administration

Lucien Pinoteau

General Manager

Sound

Robert Ivonnet

Sound Engineer

André Gailhard

Original Music Composer

Writing

Georges Lacombe

Co-Writer

Yves Mirande

Dialogue

Max Kolpé

Co-Writer