Behind the Facade

1h 30min

Crime

Comedy

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.

Cast

Lucien Baroux

Lucien Baroux

Commissioner Boucheron, district police officer
Jacques Baumer

Jacques Baumer

Inspector Lambert of the Sûreté
Jules Berry

Jules Berry

Alfredo d'Avila, dancer of these ladies
Gaby Morlay

Gaby Morlay

Gaby Valrose, minister's lover
Elvira Popescu

Elvira Popescu

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

Michel Simon

Picking, knife-throwing artist
André Lefaur

André Lefaur

Mr. Corbeau, kleptomaniac
Gaby Sylvia

Gaby Sylvia

Madeleine Martin, in love with André
Andrex

Andrex

André Laurent, bank cashier, lover of Madeleine
Simone Berriau

Simone Berriau

Lydia, singer at “Perroquet”, mistress of the President
Erich von Stroheim

Erich von Stroheim

Eric, German naturalized French
Betty Stockfeld

Betty Stockfeld

English, Albert's companion, Eric's mistress
Jacques Dumesnil

Jacques Dumesnil

Albert Durant, stockbroker and poker player
Missia

Missia

Joséphine, chicken trainer, wife of Picking
Paul Faivre

Paul Faivre

Concierge of the two buildings
Aimé Clariond

Aimé Clariond

Judge Bernier, President of the Court of Appeal
Raymond Segard

Raymond Segard

Robert Bernier, eldest son of the President
Marcel Orluc

Marcel Orluc

Gérard Bernier, youngest son of the President
Marguerite Moreno

Marguerite Moreno

Owner of the "Perroquet" and the festivities upstairs
Gabrielle Dorziat

Gabrielle Dorziat

Mrs. Bernier, wife of the President
Jean Daurand

Jean Daurand

Telegraphist who discovered the corpse
Robert Ozanne

Robert Ozanne

Brigadier
Julien Carette

Julien Carette

Soldier, confined in the room of a “country”
Elmire Vautier

Elmire Vautier

Marie, Lydia's dresser
Claude Sainval

Claude Sainval

Gaby's gigolo
Raymone

Raymone

Madame Mathieu's maid
Jean Joffre

Jean Joffre

Mr. Martin, blind, father of Madeleine
Lise Courbet

Lise Courbet

Paulette
Marcel Simon

Marcel Simon

Jules, government minister and Gaby's lover
Georges Bever

Georges Bever

Taxi driver (uncredited)
Georges Malkine

Georges Malkine

Taxi driver (uncredited)
Rivers Cadet

Rivers Cadet

Agent (uncredited)
Franck Maurice

Franck Maurice

Agent (uncredited)
Robert Moor

Robert Moor

Agent (uncredited)
Jean Wiener

Jean Wiener

Pianist of the “Perroquet” (uncredited)
Yves Mirande

Yves Mirande

Bum on the bench (uncredited)
Roger Doucet

Roger Doucet

(uncredited)
Hélène Flouest

Hélène Flouest

(uncredited)
Henri Nassiet

Henri Nassiet

(uncredited)

Release date

14th Mar 1939

Status

Released

Spoken languages

Français