Behind the Facade
14/03/1939
2h



No media Available
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.
Cast


Lucien Baroux
Commissioner Boucheron, district police officer


Jacques Baumer
Inspector Lambert of the Sûreté


Jules Berry
Alfredo d'Avila, dancer of these ladies


Gaby Morlay
Gaby Valrose, minister's lover


Elvira Popescu
Mrs. Rameau, wife of an industrialist and mistress of Alfredo


Michel Simon
Picking, knife-throwing artist


André Lefaur
Mr. Corbeau, kleptomaniac


Gaby Sylvia
Madeleine Martin, in love with André


Andrex
André Laurent, bank cashier, lover of Madeleine
Simone Berriau
Lydia, singer at “Perroquet”, mistress of the President


Erich von Stroheim
Eric, German naturalized French


Betty Stockfeld
English, Albert's companion, Eric's mistress


Jacques Dumesnil
Albert Durant, stockbroker and poker player
Missia
Joséphine, chicken trainer, wife of Picking


Paul Faivre
Concierge of the two buildings


Aimé Clariond
Judge Bernier, President of the Court of Appeal
Raymond Segard
Robert Bernier, eldest son of the President
Marcel Orluc
Gérard Bernier, youngest son of the President


Marguerite Moreno
Owner of the "Perroquet" and the festivities upstairs


Gabrielle Dorziat
Mrs. Bernier, wife of the President


Jean Daurand
Telegraphist who discovered the corpse


Robert Ozanne
Brigadier


Julien Carette
Soldier, confined in the room of a “country”


Elmire Vautier
Marie, Lydia's dresser
Lina Darwils
Tenant


Claude Sainval
Gaby's gigolo
Raymone
Madame Mathieu's maid


Jean Joffre
Mr. Martin, blind, father of Madeleine
Lise Courbet
Paulette


Marcel Simon
Jules, government minister and Gaby's lover


Georges Bever
Taxi driver (uncredited)
Georges Malkine
Taxi driver (uncredited)


Rivers Cadet
Agent (uncredited)


Franck Maurice
Agent (uncredited)


Robert Moor
Agent (uncredited)


Jean Wiener
Pianist of the “Perroquet” (uncredited)
Yves Mirande
Bum on the bench (uncredited)
Roger Doucet
(uncredited)
Hélène Flouest
(uncredited)


Henri Nassiet
(uncredited)
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