MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE

US, 1986, 92 minutes, Colour.
George C. Scott, Ian Mc Shane, Rebecca de Mornay, Val Kilmer.
Directed by Jeannot Szwarc.

Murders in the Rue Morgue is one of several films of Edgar Allen Poe's horror story. Filmed in the '30s, it was remade with Karl Malden in the '50s and with Jason Robards in the '70s. This film places the emphasis on the investigation of the murders, with George C. Scott as a retired detective and Ian McShane? as the jealous prefect. Rebecca De Mornay is Scott's daughter and Val Kilmer is his assistant investigator. The film has the benefit of excellent Paris locations.

Designed for a television audience, the film has more suggestion of horror than actually vivid sequences. It was directed by Jeannot Swarcz, director of such films as Jaws 2, Supergirl, Santa Claus.

1.The popularity of Edgar Allen Poe? This story? The many film versions?

2.The design as a telemovie, for a wide audience, treatment for the general audience? Paris locations, period and style? The stars, musical score?

3.The focus, the murders, the investigation, fewer murders than in other versions?

4.Auguste: George C. Scott, his retirement, love of Clare, playing chess, the jealousies in the French office? Philippe and his friendship, expressing his bitterness? His attitude towards Adolphe and the engagement? The deaths? The plea for him to investigate, going out, on the scene of the crime, the encounters with the prefect, the clashes? Going to his office? Helping Adolphe, the discovery of the truth? The investigations of exploring, the sailor and the dock, the discovery of the truth, telling the prefect, the climax in the park, restored to his work?

5.Clare returning from the opera, fear in the streets, at home, her strength of will, love for her father, her relationship with Adolphe, being stood up, the reconciliation? Philippe and his devotion? Going to the jail to visit Adolphe? Philippe helping her to understand the truth? Going with him to the park, the attack by the gorilla?

6.Philippe, the memories of his father, pleasant, playing chess with Auguste, his love for Clare? The scene of the crime, the mission from Auguste, jail, telling Clare, the newspapers, the final rescue?

7.Adolphe as the handsome cad, his relationship with Clare, the other women? Accompanying the women to the Rue Morgue? The truth?

8.The prefect and his pomposity, jealousies, his work, at the scene of the crime, warning of Auguste? Arresting Adolphe? Auguste letting him know - and his taking the credit at the end? Restoring Auguste?

9.The sailor, the monkey, the interview with Auguste, the flashback revealing the true murders?

10.The atmosphere of horror: the opening killing, the vagrant in the park, the two women and their returning home, the vivid presentation of the attack in their apartment, their deaths, the police investigation, the sailor and the flashback and the visuals?

11.A detective story, a horror story, human relationships?