LANDRU
France, 1963, 115 minutes, Colour.
Charles Denner, Michelle Morgan, Danielle Darrieux, Hildegarde Knef, Stephane Audran.
Directed by Claude Chabrol.
Landru is a French version of the Bluebeard story. There have been many versions, with such notable people as George Sanders and Richard Burton as the famous lady-killer. A variation on the theme, expertly done, was Charles Chaplin's Monsieur Verdoux of 1947.
Charles Denner, an excellent French actor, is very good in the central role - partly sympathetic, partly repellent, a small man playing with people's affections and trying to achieve some kind of personal greatness. The film is of further interest because it was directed by Claude Chabrol. Chabrol had been a critic and with Francois Truffaut had written a famous work on Hitchcock in the fifties. He was one of the new wave directors at the end of the fifties with The Cousins and Le Beau Serge. At this time he was making experimental films including a version of Ophelia. He was later to make a series of excellent thrillers echoing Hitchcock but making the studies of conscience, guilt, expiation, his own. Landru is interesting in itself but certainly has an important place in the career of Chabrol.
1. Audience interest in Bluebeard? The legend and the stories? The fascination with such a sex murderer? The identification of subconscious urges with this archetypal character?
2. The film's use of colour, decor and costumes, specified to a certain date? Style? (The effect of dubbing, the black and white presentation, editing, audience interpretation?)
3. It is suggested that the film is 1ike a statuette: pieces are seen and interpreted; the whole is not clear; there are contradictions that are presented but not explained. Is this an adequate way to interpret the film. The value of this kind of presentation and interpretation?
4. Landru as he is presented in society: the clashes between rich and poor, the presentation of differing classes? Landru’s work, the presentation of his family? Landru's hypocrisy face to face with the different strata of society? The judgement made on Landru by the different classes? Their reaction to his death?
5. What kind of man was he as presented in the film? In terms of his appearance. his normal behaviour, his relationship to his family and within it,. his charm? His relationship with Fernand? His attraction towards beauty? The contrast with the freakish aspects, the perversion, people seeing him as a monster? Which was the real Landru?
6. The film's explorations of his obsessions: money, beauty, sexuality? Which predominated and why? The nature of obsessions and their hold on him?
7. How important was the presentation of the types of women he was attracted to? The nature of the relationship and his style? The tender aspects, the happiness, the comic touches? The contrast of the violence? The visualising of his relationships and the murders? Was he seen as a character or a caricature in these situations? The personalities and characters of the women? The reason for their attraction? Their foolishness in being deceived? Their wealth, beauty, sexuality?
8. The maid and her character? The lack of motive for her death? The change in Landru?
9. Comment on Landru’s relationship with Fernand, carrying on all during this period? How did it change? Landru’s seeing it in relationship with his family?
10. His character was full of contradictions? Does this matter in the visual presentation? Why? Different responses to different aspects of character?
11. The irony of his being caught, the manner of the trial and its presentation? The presentation of his death and its significance? Audience interest in and sympathy for his death or not?
12. How objective a look at the character and the legend was this film? How much demand was made on personal responses of like and dislike, sympathy and repelling? How much understanding and pity? A survivor in an ugly world? A monster in a normal world?
