La Chambre ardente (1962)
Directed by Julien Duvivier

Film Review

Another victim of the French Nouvelle Vague was the distinguished film director Julien Duvivier.  Admittedly, some of his best work (from between 1935 and 1960) was behind him.  Nevertheless, in the sixties his cinematic and narrative skills did not desert him in films such as Boulevard, Le Diable et les dix commandements and Chair de poule.  La Chambre ardente is no exception to the rule.  First seen in Paris on the 30th March 1962, this Franco-German production is adapted by Duvivier and Charles Spaak from a book written in 1937 by the American writer John Dickson Carr.

The French cast is made up of such distinguished performers as Jean-Claude Brialy, Claude Rich and Edith Scob (Georges Franju's muse in Les Yeux sans visage and Judex).  On the German side, the parts were offered to Austrian actrice Nadja Tiller (seen in movies with Jean Gabin, Robert Hossein, Pierre Brasseur, Jean Marais and Jean-Paul Belmondo) and actor/husband Walter Giller.  If the rest of the crew is well-suited for this polished and attractive Gothic drama, the film has a few weaknesses due to its mix of rational and supernatural elements.  On the other hand, the film's impeccable construction, some crisp dialogue and several atmospheric scenes (such as the murder and the funeral) are to its credit.  If the film's conclusion is open-ended, one can say that it stays true to the spirit of John Dickson Carr's work.  Finally, the title refers to a court in the 17th century where famous poisoners such as la Brinvilliers and la Voisin were interrogated and tortured.  This 3 star film has been available on DVD since January 2012.

Film Synopsis

A dedicated student of history, Mathias Desgrez is an old man who lives alone in his castle buried deep in the Black Forest.  As his health steadily declines, he is assiduously tended to by his devoted nurse, Myra Schneider.  One summer, he invites his nephews, Stéphane and Marc, to his ancient homestead to spend a few weeks with him.  On their arrival, these two are surprised by the discovery that their uncle has also invited the journalist Michel Boissard and his wife Marie.  They have yet to discover the improbable historical connection between the old man and the seductive young woman.

It seems that Marie is the last descendent of the Marquise de Brinvilliers, a notorious poisonner at the time of King Louis XIV.  After a career that brought her lasting infamy, the wicked Marquise was finally brought to justice by a policeman who, incredible as it may seem, is a distant ancestor of Mathias.  Is the old man tempting Providence by inviting the descendent of a celebrated murderess into his home?  This appears to be the case, as he dies suddenly on the night that his guests are enjoying a masked ball.  The verdict is conclusive: Mathias Desgrez was killed by poisoning!

Most worrying of all is the testimony of Desgrez's housekeeper, who claims to have caught a glimpse of a woman in 17th century apparel in her employer's bedroom just before he died.  On learning that he has been disinherited, Stéphane becomes suspicious and orders the exhumation of his uncle so that a thorough autopsy can be performed.  To his surprise, the family vault contains no trace of his uncle's remains.  Is it possible that the spirit of the evil Marquise de Brinvilliers has returned to avenge her execution, or is there a more down to earth explanation for the murder of Mathias Desgrez..?