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La Cité de l'indicible peur

La Cité de l'indicible peur

Movie · 1964 · 3 people

Jean-Pierre Mocky made La Cité de l'indicible peur ("The City of Unspeakable Fear") in 1964, a French film described as a crime farce with touches of horror. Running about 90 minutes, it was shot in French and in black and white. Bourvil, Francis Blanche, Jean Poiret and Jean-Louis Barrault take the leading roles, and the cast also includes Jacques Dufilho, Dominique Zardi, Luc Andrieux, Claude Mansard, César Torrès and Alfred Pasquali. In Germany it became known as Angst in der Stadt.

The film is based on the 1943 novel of the same name by the Belgian writer Jean Ray. Preparing the screenplay himself, Mocky moved the novel's Scottish story to an invented town in France. Shooting took place in the small medieval town of Salers, with Eugen Schüfftan as cinematographer.

The film's release history was shaped by a change of title. On first release the distributor shortened it and launched it as La Grande Frousse ("The Big Scare"); with about 680,000 admissions, its box-office run was modest. In 1972 Mocky put the film out again at full length and restored the name he preferred, the same as the novel's, which was also used for later screenings and the DVD edition. In France the film is handled by Pathé.

DirectorJean-Pierre Mocky

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Cast

Only cast members with a profile on this site are listed.

Dominique Zardi Actor · died at 79 Jacques Dufilho Jacques Dufilho Actor · died at 91 Luc Andrieux Luc Andrieux Actor · died at 60

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Through different eyes

Cinephile Looks at script, editing and directing choices; keeps a distance from formula films.

Jean-Pierre Mocky's film is a bold genre blend that mixes crime farce with touches of horror. Moving the Scottish story of Jean Ray's novel to an invented town in France shows his wish to put his own stamp on the adaptation. The medieval texture of Salers and Eugen Schüfftan's black-and-white images make an ideal ground for keeping the uncanny and the comic side by side. A cast of Bourvil, Francis Blanche, Jean Poiret and Jean-Louis Barrault is a strong combination for comic rhythm. The film being shortened and launched under another title on first release, then put out again by Mocky in 1972 at full length under the name he preferred, says a lot about how much the director stood by it. It is only natural that the mix of tones won't suit everyone.

Yeşilçam Nostalgic A viewer raised on the classics, looking for warm storytelling and strong acting.

Seeing names like Bourvil, Francis Blanche and Jean-Louis Barrault on the same poster is an invitation in itself for anyone who loves the old masters of French cinema. With its black-and-white images and the atmosphere of a small medieval town, La Cité de l'indicible peur promises an old-fashioned pleasure. Being adapted from Jean Ray's novel gives book lovers another reason to watch. As a crime farce with touches of horror, it may ask you to forgive the tone for drifting somewhere odd at times. Still, it is a fine keepsake of an era that relied more on wit than on crude laughs.

Family Viewer Asks whether the whole household can watch it; cares about humour and heart.

Being black and white and in French, it will have a hard time holding children's attention. It's a crime comedy, but it has touches of horror too, which might unsettle little ones. It runs about 90 minutes, so it isn't long. It can be a different kind of evening for teenagers and adults who like old films. Remember you'll need subtitles or a dubbed version, since it isn't in Turkish.

These are not reader reviews: they are short editorial takes written from different viewer perspectives with AI assistance. Reader reviews are below.

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