Bluebeard (1944)
Movie Info
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Cast
as Gaston Morel
as Lucille Lutien
as Inspector Jacques Lefevre
as Jean Lamarte
as Insp. Renard
as Francine Lutien
as Renee Claremont
as Mimi Robert
as Deschamps
as Le Soldat
as Bebette
as Constance
as Jeanette
Critic Reviews for Bluebeard
All Critics (12) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (12) | Rotten (0) | DVD (1)
Edgar G. Ulmer somehow managed to transform the absurd limitations of the scripts, budgets, and actors he was given to work with into a mad aesthetic principle.
Ulmer (Murnau's one time art director and assistant) is the most subterranean of all directors, and here turns out a triumph of mind, eye and talent.
This is a small miracle of polished film-making.
Bluebeard is one of director Edgar G. Ulmer's best works and contains one of John Carradine's greatest performances.
A breathtakingly self-reflexive portrait
Ulmer's third masterpiece, after The Black Cat (1934) and Detour (1945); it's one of his few films that overcame its wretched budget.
Audience Reviews for Bluebeard
Edgar G. Ulmer may be considered a bit of a genius when it came to making bottom-of-the-bucket budget films for the studio PRC, but he simply can't raise the quality of every picture above its limitations. There are occasional signs of creativity in the camera angles, but the film, including a couple action shots, is nearly always badly lit. The script and Carradine's performance as a painter/puppeteer/serial killer do not evoke strong feelings for the characters in one direction or the other.
Super Reviewer
A painter/puppeteer kills his models in 19th century Paris. A dusty and lifeless serial killer relic; when John Carradine is acting (rather than over-acting) he's actually a pretty dull fellow. Hard to believe this was made by the same director who made the B-masterpieces THE BLACK CAT and DETOUR; even harder to believe that 100% positive Rotten Tomatoes rating.
Super Reviewer
An okay adaptation of the story of Bluebeard, not great, but not bad either.
Super Reviewer
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