In 1962, FrançoisTruffaut was able to sit down with director Alfred Hitchcock for several extended interviews, where the auteur discussed each of his films. Later published in 1967, as Hitchcock/Truffaut the book has become a classic, and a staple of film schools everywhere. In 1968, Truffaut released The Bride Wore Black (La Mariée était en noir), an homage to his love and respect for Hitchcock’s work. The Bride Wore Black was based on a novel Cornell Woolrich, who also wrote the story that served as the basis for Rear Window. Just to give his film a little more Hitchcockian flair, Truffaut tapped Hitchcock’s musical collaborator Bernard Herrmann to compose the score.

After being thwarted in her attempt to hurl herself out of a window, the grief-stricken Julie Kohler (Jeanne Moreau) announces she’s going on a long trip. On the surface, this seems like a classic ‘woman scorned’ story as flashbacks explain why Julie is on a mission to kill five men she’s never even met. Truffaut provides no details, or attempts to connect the dots. Instead, he allows us to observe as Julie travels through France by train, killing them, coldly, one-by-one. It’s scary really, when you see how good she is at. Calculating, she leaves nothing behind, no clues, and no witnesses.

In the midst of all this, Truffaut informs us of Julie’s motivations. Just after her wedding, as she and her husband are descending the church stairs, her husband is killed. The fact that none of the meant to kill him is irrelevant. Their common interest in hunting and women has them in Julie’s sights. She is already dead as a result of losing her husband, and having become the angel of death, is delivering just punishment to each of the men.

Apart from Jules and Jim, The Bride Wore Black represents the best performance of Jeanne Moreau’s career. The spotlight is firmly on her. Understandably, all the men are drawn to the alluring Julie. While their hormones are in overdrive, she toys with their desire, putting them right where she wants them. Wearing different wigs and clothing, depending on which man she is targeting, Julie she coolly adapts to each situation. None of the men expect what’s coming, though perhaps her monotone voice should suggest something. A psychological thriller and not a horror movie, the murders themselves are either bloodless or take place off screen, the blood-curdling screams the only indication of a horrific act.

Though not very well received at the time of its initial release, The Bride Wore Black has since come to be seen by some as Truffaut’s unappreciated masterpiece. While I think it’d a stretch to call it a masterpiece—the lapses in logic is a tough issue to overlook—but Jeanne Moreau’s strong performance and the interesting psycho-sexual questions raised throughout, make the film well worth recommending.

Framed in the 1.67:1 aspect ratio, Twilight Time’s 1080p transfer offers up a fairly sharp image, free of dust and debris. The color palette appears a bit dull, but this is by design. There are bursts of brighter colors throughout. Skin tones look natural, and black levels are generally good. Contrast is consistent, The English subtitles are in yellow and are very easy to read.

The disc offers the original French language track and an English dubbed version, both in DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0. I listened solely to the original French language track, which, due to post-dubbing, has a flat affect that is common in tracks of the era. The wonderful music by Bernard Herrmann never interferes with the dialogue or effects.

English subtitles are included.

The following extras are available:

  • Audio Commentary features Bernard Herrmann biographer Steven C. Smith along with Twilight Time’s Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman. Smith and Kirgo offer some persuasive reasons why The Bride Wore Black isn’t imitative of Hitchcock.
  • Isolated Music and Effects Track is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0.
  • Theatrical Trailer (SD, 1:56)
  • MGM 90th Anniversary Trailer (HD, 2:06)
  • Bonus CD (78:49) offers Conversation Piece: An Unvarnished Chat with Bernard Herrmann. Awesome bonus here! Taped in 1970, Hermann argues with, and answers interviewer’s questions. This is a must-listen for fans of film music.
  • Enclosed Six-Page Booklet: contains tinted stills, original poster art on the back cover, and film historian Julie Kirgo’s enlightening analysis of the movie.

 

There are only 3,000 copies of this Blu-ray available. Those interested should go to www.screenarchives.com to see if product is still in stock. Information about the movie can also be found via Facebook at www.facebook.com/twilighttimemovies.