Claude Chabrol is the most prolific, durable and underrated of all
Nouvelle Vague film-makers.
In order of merit:
1.This Man Must Die (1969) ****
2.Le Boucher (1970) ***1/2
3.The Unfaithful Wife (1969) ***1/2
4.Les Biches (1968) ***1/2
5.Nada (1974) ***1/2
6.Innocents with Dirty Hands (1975) ***1/2
7.La Cérémonie (1995) ***1/2
8.Les Bonnes Femmes (1960) ***
9.L'Enfer (1994) ***
10.Merci pour le chocolat (2000) ***
11.The Bridesmaid (2004) ***
12.The Flower of Evil (2003) ***
13.Ten Days Wonder (1971) ***
14.À double tour (1959) ***
15.Bluebeard (1963) ***
16.Pleasure Party (1975) ***
17.Wedding in Blood (1973) **1/2
18.Ophélia (1963) **1/2
19.Blood Relatives (1978) **1/2
20.The Swindle (1997) **1/2
21.The Color of Lies (1999) **1/2
22.Madame Bovary (1991) **1/2
23.Marie-Chantal vs. Doctor Kha (1965) **
I also have the following in my VHS/DVD collection:
Le Beau Serge (1958)
Les Cousins (1959)
M. le maudit (1982) (TV)
Inspecteur Lavardin (1986)
Masques (1987)
Story of Women (1988)
Betty (1992)
Besides, I intend to purchase the following DVDs:
The Road to Corinth (1967) (aka Who's Got the Black Box)
The Break Up (1970)
Just Before Nightfall (1971)
The Cry of the Owl (1987)
I was lucky enough to "meet" Mr. Chabrol at the 2004 Venice Film Festival where THE BRIDESMAID was being screened. I attended the Press Conference prior to the screening where he was accompanied by the gorgeous star of the film, Laura Smet. Unfortunately, the place was packed and the organizers were amazed at his popularity (even comparing it to Johnny Depp's
) and had to almost forcibly detain Mr. Chabrol from signing more autographs; I did manage to get one myself, actually, and utter a barely audible "Merci" to the great man
...but, in the rush of meeting one of my idols, I totally neglected the babe sitting next to him
! I did get a closer look at both of them, though, at the screening later that night...