Behind the Facade
Derrière la façade
“" He's a loser, he gets off to a bad start, but when he wants to, he always has the last word: Justice ! "”
Synopsis
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.
Top Cast
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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
Release History & Theatrical Window
Venice Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
September 27, 1944
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Yves Mirande, Georges Lacombe
- Screenplay & Story
- Georges Lacombe, Max Kolpé, Yves Mirande
- Original Score
- Jean Wiener, André Gailhard
- Original Title
- Derrière la façade
- Country of Origin
- France
- Spoken Languages
- French
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
- Production Studios
- Régina
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Yves Mirande, Georges Lacombe
Georges Lacombe, Max Kolpé, Yves Mirande
Jean Wiener, André Gailhard
Marthe Poncin
Department Leadership Roster
Yves Mirande
Director
Georges Lacombe
Director
Marthe Poncin
Editor
Yves Mirande
Writer
André Gailhard
Original Music Composer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Behind the Facade.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Behind the Facade
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Behind the Facade about?
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.
Who directed Behind the Facade?
Behind the Facade was directed by Yves Mirande, Georges Lacombe.
Who stars in Behind the Facade?
The principal cast of Behind the Facade includes Lucien Baroux, Jacques Baumer, Jules Berry, Gaby Morlay, Elvira Popescu.
When was Behind the Facade released and how long is it?
Behind the Facade was released in 1939 with a total runtime of 1h 30m.
Who composed the musical score for Behind the Facade?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Behind the Facade was composed by Jean Wiener, André Gailhard.