Quai des Orfèvres
Metascore
89 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 10 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
view
per page
  1. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    100
    A film noir? A backstage musical? A whodunit? A comedy? In truth, it's all of the above -- plus a kinky love story, an absorbing melodrama, and a mordantly jaded snapshot of postwar Paris -- and all of them are wonderful.
  2. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Michael Sragow
    100
    A gorgeous flirt of a murder movie.
  3. Variety
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not credited)
    100
    In every respect it is outstanding.
  4. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: William Arnold
    91
    Like all great film noir, however, the real delight of this film is in its mood and atmosphere.
  5. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Elliott Stein
    90
    The visual style has an expressionistic undertow, rich in shadowy chiaroscuro compositions.
  6. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    90
    Brooding, beautifully made and almost impossible for Americans to see -- Quai des Orfèvres, makes a triumphant reappearance on theatrical screens after an absence of about 50 years.
  7. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Stephen Hunter
    90
    It is in fact a traditional mystery more reminiscent of Agatha Christie than the reigning film noir aesthetic of 1947. But it's fabulously entertaining.
  8. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    75
    This pungently filmed 1947 melodrama doesn't rank with Clouzot classics like "Diabolique" and "The Wages of Fear," but it's full of hard-boiled charm and has a musical score that adds extra dimensions to its impact.
  9. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Mick LaSalle
    75
    An excellent film noir.
  10. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not Credited)
    60
    While the story is thin, Clouzot uses his immense skills to raise the picture above the standard for the genre.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.3 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 4 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Halfwelshman
    9
    Quai des Orfevres is a truly fine example of a murder-mystery, chiefly because of how it breaks the "typical" formula for the genre. The film isn't about finding out "whodunit" - we are provided with that information from the very start. In reality, it's a tale of deception and misunderstanding - the police think they are on the right line of enquiry, but fail to guess how far off the real culprit they really are, and the innocent man who is suspected is forced to cover his tracks as the evidence against him is strong. Performances across the board are strong, but Louis Jouvet is the real highlight of the film, playing one of the all-time greatest grizzled movie police detectives - he is absolutely captivating in every scene. The real achievement of Quai des Orfevres is how expertly it bridges the gap between formula and innovation. It's extremely enjoyable as a highlight of the mystery genre and noire filmmaking, but it is memorable because it deconstructs these filmic artifices and is unafraid to do something a little different in regards to narrative and character.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »