Huis-Clos (1954)(dvd)

Synopsis: Jacqueline Audry usually approached her text with great reverence, but here she was revisionist to the point of destruction. Quite why screenwriter Pierre Laroche felt it necessary to emasculate Jean-Paul Sartre's existential masterpiece remains a mystery.

Yet it's plain to see what a disservice his decision to add extra characters and incorporate other-worldly flashbacks does to the relentless intensity of the original drama, in which a recently deceased trio discover the bitter truth that “hell is other people”.

However, Arletty imparts some much-needed class as the ageing lesbian desperately trying to dissuade flirty Gaby Sylvia from hitting on homosexual Frank Villard.

To get Huis-Clos on dvd please contact us.

Cast: Arletty, Franck Villard
Runtime: 95 min