Elevator to the Gallows
1958 · Movie · NR · 92 min · ★ 7.6 · 94% critics
A businessman carries out a planned killing of his employer, the husband of his mistress, but his attempt goes off the rails. While he’s trapped and trying to fix things, mistaken assumptions and other reckless choices trigger a string of trouble across the city.
Also known as Lift to the Scaffold · Frantic
Where to watch
Streaming on HBO Max and The Criterion Channel — or rent from $3.99.
2 hours to watch.
Stream (included)
Rent
Streaming availability and prices may be inaccurate or change — verify with the provider before subscribing.
unSUB's subscription recommendations are informational only, not financial advice.
More value for your money
Similar titles, ranked by watch-hours per subscription dollar.
Details
- Original title
- Ascenseur pour l'échafaud
- Years
- 1958
- Release date
- 1958-01-29
- Language
- French
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Critic score
- 94/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.6/10 (700 votes)
About
Choose this if you like moody, ironic crime noir with a roaming Paris vibe and Miles Davis music; Not for you if you need straightforward logic or want everything to feel emotionally effortless, and it may not hit like Purple Noon or Breathless.
Pros: bleak noir atmosphere; Miles Davis jazz; stylish tension | Cons: implausible plot points; uneven character moments; some convoluted decisions
Themes
- secret love
- paris, france
- car race
- suicide attempt
- arms deal
- photography
- camera
- suspicion of murder
- hearing
- defense industry
- motel
- blackout
- +8 more
Awards & recognition
- Louis Delluc Prize · 1957
Cast & crew
Jeanne Moreau
as Florence Carala
Maurice Ronet
as Julien Tavernier
Georges Poujouly
as Louis
Yori Bertin
as Véronique
Jean Wall
as Simon Carala
Elga Andersen
as Frieda Bencker
Sylviane Aisenstein
as Yvonne, la Fille du Bar
Micheline Bona
as Geneviève
Gisèle Grandpré
as Jacqueline Mauclair
Jacqueline Staup
as Anna
Directed by Louis Malle