''The Burning Court'' (french: La chambre ardente) is a French-Italian-German film directed by

Julien Duvivier Julien Duvivier (; 8 October 1896 – 29 October 1967) was a French film director and screenwriter. He was prominent in French cinema in the years 1930–1960. Amongst his most original films, chiefly notable are ''La Bandera (film), La Bandera'', ...

, released in 1962. The script was written by

Charles Spaak Charles Spaak (25 May 1903 – 4 March 1975) was a Belgian screenwriter who was noted particularly for his work in the French cinema during the 1930s. He was the son of the dramatist and poet Paul Spaak, the brother of the politician Paul-Henri S ...

and Duvivier, from the 1937 novel of the same name by

John Dickson Carr John Dickson Carr (November 30, 1906 – February 27, 1977) was an American author of detective stories, who also published using the pseudonyms Carter Dickson, Carr Dickson, and Roger Fairbairn. He lived in England for a number of years, and is ...

. The cast included Catherine Rich who was making her debut on the screen.

Plot

Historian Michel Boissard (

Walter Giller Walter Giller (23 August 1927 – 15 December 2011) was a German actor. He was very successful in the 1950s and 1960s, when he was often seen as a comedic leading man. One of his most successful and more serious roles was in ''Roses for the Pros ...

), is invited with his wife Marie (

Édith Scob Édith Scob (21 October 1937 – 26 June 2019) was a French film and theatre actress, best known for her role as the daughter with a disfigured face in '' Eyes Without a Face'' (1960). Early life and family Scob was born Édith Helena Vladimirov ...

), a descendant of

Madame de Brinvilliers Marie-Madeleine d'Aubray, Marquise de Brinvilliers (22 July 1630 – 16 July 1676) was a French aristocrat who was accused and convicted of murdering her father and two of her brothers in order to inherit their estates. After her death, there ...

, the notorious poisoner, to the château of Mathias Desgrez (

Frédéric Duvallès Frédéric Duvallès (1884–1971) was a French film actor.Hayward p.383 He was often simply credited as Duvallès. Selected filmography * '' The Wonderful Day'' (1932) * ''Companion Wanted'' (1932) * '' Dora Nelson'' (1935) * '' The King'' (1936 ...

). Mathias Desgrez is a descendant of the last lover of the Marchioness, who denounced her. Mathias is adept in the

occult The occult, in the broadest sense, is a category of esoteric supernatural beliefs and practices which generally fall outside the scope of religion and science, encompassing phenomena involving otherworldly agency, such as magic and mysticism a ...

arts, which he practises with his friend Dr. Hermann (

Antoine Balpêtré Antoine Balpêtré (3 May 1898 – 28 March 1963) was a French stage and film actor. He appeared in more than 50 films between 1933 and 1963. Partial filmography * '' The Agony of the Eagles'' (1933) - Le commandant Thiéry * '' The House ...

). To the château come Marc Desgrez (

Jean-Claude Brialy Jean-Claude Brialy (30 March 1933 – 30 May 2007) was a French actor and film director. Early life Brialy was born in Aumale (now Sour El-Ghozlane), French Algeria, where his father was stationed with the French Army. Brialy moved to mainland ...

), and Stephane Desgrez (

Claude Rich Claude Rich (8 February 1929 – 20 July 2017) was a French stage and screen actor. He began his career in the theater before his film debut in 1955. Personal life He married actress Catherine Renaudin on 26 June 1959. They had two daughters, ...

), nephews of Mathias, who are waiting impatiently for their inheritance. The wife of Marc, Lucy (

Perrette Pradier Perrette Pradier (born Perrette Marie Mathilde Chevau; 17 April 1938 – 16 January 2013) was a French actress and dubbing director. She is best known for her work as a voice actress which earned her the nickname of "Queen" or "High Prie ...

) also has hopes. And Marc's mistress Myra (

Nadja Tiller Nadja Tiller (born 16 March 1929 in Vienna, Austria) is an Austrian actress. She was one of the most popular German-speaking actresses of international films of the 1950s and 1960s. Biography Nadja Tiller, daughter of actor Anton Tiller of Vie ...

) who is Mathias' personal nurse, would like to accelerate Marc's uncle's death. Mathias himself is fascinated by Marie Boissard. One night, a little time later, Mathias dies having received a visit from a mysterious woman bringing him medications, and is seen by a servant. Mathias is buried and then his body disappears just when the analysis proves that he has undoubtedly been poisoned. By whom? Lucy - eager to inherit? Myra - to please her lover? Marie - to avenge her betrayed ancestor, by the ancestor of Mathias? Inspector Krauss (

Claude Piéplu Claude Léon Auguste Piéplu (9 May 1923, Paris–24 May 2006, Paris) was a French theater, film and television actor. He was known for his hoarse and frayed voice. Selected filmography *''D'homme à hommes'' (1948) - (uncredited) *''Le Ro ...

) enquires into the matter.

References

External links

* 1962 films 1960s thriller films French thriller films Italian thriller films West German films 1960s French-language films Films based on British novels Films directed by Julien Duvivier Films scored by Georges Auric Films set in France German thriller films 1960s Italian films 1960s French films 1960s German films {{1960s-thriller-film-stub