Constance aux enfers (1963)
Directed by François Villiers

Film Synopsis

Constance Brunel, a widow in her forties, has grown accustomed to living alone.  These days, the only company she has are her pupils, to whom she gives piano lessons in her solitary Montmartre apartment.  Another distraction is provided by the young couple who live opposite her - Hugo and Pascale.  They are always rowing, usually on account of Hugo's easily inflamed jealousy.  Pascale only has to look at another man for her partner to flare up and start showering her with invectives.  One evening, the row is fiercer than usual.  The couple have obviously been drinking and as Constance watches in alarm Hugo seizes his partner by the neck and throttles her.  A few minutes later, the widow is surprised when the young man turns up on her doorstep in a state of total anguish. 

Unable to turn him away, Constance invites Hugo into her home and offers him a place to spend the night.  The next day, Hugo cannot bring himself to go to the police - the trauma of killing his wife has clearly robbed him of his nerve.  The widow still cannot bring herself to turn him away, and by now she realises how strongly she is drawn to him.  It isn't long before they become lovers, but the idyllic affair is interrupted when Constance receives an anonymous letter from someone who threatens to denounce Hugo unless a large sum of money is paid.  Naturally the widow hands over the money, but then other letters follow, and Constance has no choice but to pay up or risk losing the man she has fallen in love with.

Later, Constance begins to notice Hugo's prolonged absences from her apartment and wonders where he goes during the day.  To find out, she follows him without his knowing and is horrified to see him in the company of the young woman she thought he had killed - Pascale.  It suddenly dawns on Constance that she has been taken for a fool.  It has all been a ruse to extort money from her!  Consumed with bitterness, she resolves to inflict a cruel revenge on the couple who have played such a despicable trick on her.  With the help of a private detective, she learns that Pascale is pursuing a secret affair with another man.  When Constance presents Hugo with the evidence he can hardly contain himself.  There is no mistake that this time his fury is genuine.  This time when he gets into an argument with Pascale he will murder her for real.  And this time Constance will not be there to help him...