The Judge and the Assassin

1976 2h 8m FR

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 147

HistoryCrimeDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

France, 1893. Joseph Bouvier attempts to shoot his love who refused to marry him and to commit suicide. Upon release from the filthy asylum where he was placed, with bullets still remaining in his head, he wanders the country roads and rapes and murders many teenagers over years. The judge Rousseau captures him, but to serve his ambition seeks to avoid that Bouvier is simply declared insane.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

Criterion ChannelSubscription

Cast

Philippe Noiret
Juge Rousseau
Michel Galabru
Joseph Bouvier
Isabelle Huppert
Rose
Jean-Claude Brialy
Avocat Villedieu
Renée Faure
Mme Rousseau
Cécile Vassort
Louise Leseuer
Jean-Roger Caussimon
Chanteur de rue
Jean Bretonnière
Le député

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Bertrand Tavernier
Writers: Bertrand Tavernier, Jean Aurenche, Pierre Bost
Languages: French, Vietnamese
Countries: France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

50 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: French, Vietnamese.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Bertrand Tavernier, shot by Pierre-William Glenn. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Philippe Sarde. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Armand Psenny shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Philippe Noiret and Michel Galabru and Isabelle Huppert carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0073219 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Bertrand Tavernier directs. Pierre-William Glenn behind the camera. Philippe Sarde scores. Armand Psenny cuts. Produced in France. Dialogue in French, Vietnamese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

150 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: French, Vietnamese.
3Directed by Bertrand Tavernier, shot by Pierre-William Glenn. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Philippe Sarde. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Armand Psenny shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Philippe Noiret and Michel Galabru and Isabelle Huppert carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0073219 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.