actor

Behind the Facade

78 %|Mar 14, 1939|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.

Featured Crew

Georges Lacombe
Director
Yves Mirande
Director
Yves Mirande
Writer
Yves Mirande
Dialogue
Georges Lacombe
Co-Writer
Max Kolpé
Co-Writer
Victor Arménise
Camera Operator
Robert Juillard
Camera Operator

Cast

actor
Lucien Baroux
Commissioner Boucheron, district police officer
actor
Jacques Baumer
Inspector Lambert of the Sûreté
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Jules Berry
Alfredo d'Avila, dancer of these ladies
actor
Gaby Morlay
Gaby Valrose, minister's lover
actor
Elvira Popescu
Mrs. Rameau, wife of an industrialist and mistress of Alfredo
actor
Michel Simon
Picking, knife-throwing artist
actor
André Lefaur
Mr. Corbeau, kleptomaniac
actor
Gaby Sylvia
Madeleine Martin, in love with André
actor
Andrex
André Laurent, bank cashier, lover of Madeleine
actor
Simone Berriau
Lydia, singer at “Perroquet”, mistress of the President
actor
Erich von Stroheim
Eric, German naturalized French
actor
Betty Stockfeld
English, Albert's companion, Eric's mistress
actor
Jacques Dumesnil
Albert Durant, stockbroker and poker player
actor
Missia
Joséphine, chicken trainer, wife of Picking
actor
Paul Faivre
Concierge of the two buildings
actor
Aimé Clariond
Judge Bernier, President of the Court of Appeal
actor
Raymond Segard
Robert Bernier, eldest son of the President
actor
Marcel Orluc
Gérard Bernier, youngest son of the President
actor
Marguerite Moreno
Owner of the "Perroquet" and the festivities upstairs
actor
Gabrielle Dorziat
Mrs. Bernier, wife of the President
actor
Jean Daurand
Telegraphist who discovered the corpse
actor
Robert Ozanne
Brigadier
actor
Julien Carette
Soldier, confined in the room of a “country”
actor
Elmire Vautier
Marie, Lydia's dresser
actor
Claude Sainval
Gaby's gigolo
actor
Raymone
Madame Mathieu's maid
actor
Jean Joffre
Mr. Martin, blind, father of Madeleine
actor
Lise Courbet
Paulette
actor
Marcel Simon
Jules, government minister and Gaby's lover
actor
Georges Bever
Taxi driver (uncredited)
actor
Georges Malkine
Taxi driver (uncredited)
actor
Rivers Cadet
Agent (uncredited)
actor
Franck Maurice
Agent (uncredited)
actor
Robert Moor
Agent (uncredited)
actor
Jean Wiener
Pianist of the “Perroquet” (uncredited)
actor
Yves Mirande
Bum on the bench (uncredited)
actor
Roger Doucet
(uncredited)
actor
Hélène Flouest
(uncredited)
actor
Henri Nassiet
(uncredited)