1964 ‘Les Félins’ Directed by René Clément
A small-time con man on the run from the gangster-husband of his girlfriend hides out in a strange, brooding mansion run by two mysterious women, where he finds himself trapped in deception between the two women.
The Love Cage, La Jaula del Amor, Wie Raubkatzen, 조이 하우스, 고양이들
It would seem that a lot of people don't like this film. I don't understand why. I've always loved it. Joy House is pure pulp fiction - red herrings, an awkward love triangle and some outrageous twists. It's all so slick too! Alain Delon is a playboy on the run. His salvation comes in the form of two angels dressed in black who whisk him away to a fairytale castle - and that's where his real troubles begin! Everything about this film is so ambiguous - it's never clear where it's going, but the set up is presented so well that it's easy to buy in to whatever is in store. Much of the intrigue comes from the characters -…
"The only people who really dug that movie, for some reason, were junkies. They used to come up to me and give me a big wink." - Jane Fonda on this movie.
Visually stunning even before it hits a level of preposterous-ness that forces you to assess it beyond face value, and to be honest I don't really know what all is hiding in this particular attic - check out those eye lights, though.
“I want you to go to Europe and get him.”
“Europe’s a big place.”
Rene Clement and Al Delon just stopped by Chateau Noir tother day to chat about how purple noon can be. They had such a swell time, they came by again to spread some joy about the house.
A New York gangster (George Gaynes) discovers his wife (Berett Arcaya) has been playing rumpy-pumpy with Marc (Al Delon) and sets his thugs after the Frenchman. Escaping them, Marc takes refuge in the Riviera villa of two strange—make that tres strange—American women, cousins Barbara (Lola Albright) and Melinda (Jane Fonda). Barbara’s hubby had been killed two years earlier by her lover, Vincent (Andre Oumansky), who remains at large. Marc,…
„You can check out any time you like but you can’t never leave“
Joy house feels like hotel California and just is another wonderful little film of clement who once again knows how to setup a young Alain delon.
Near the Magnificent and very stylish score the supporting cast with a young Jane Fonda could totally shine. A fast pacing and a twisted finale makes this to one of the easiest watches of delons filmography.
This twisty thriller shot in black and white and 'scope reunites the Purple Noon crew of Alain Delon, Rene Clement, DP Henri Decaë and the scenic Côte d'Azur. A stylish gothic neo-noir where the convoluted plot is half the fun. The highly compelling pre-credit sequence and the opening scenes involving American gangsters are basically red herrings, little more than a plot mechanism to get the caddish anti-hero played by Delon into a hillside mansion hideout and into the clutches of an enigmatic and sexy pair of ladies played by Lola Albright and Jane Fonda (both are great). Is this fetching duo lonely, crazy, sex starved, or homicidal? Whatever the case it becomes increasingly clear that they will end up aiding and abetting the comeuppance of Delon's cocksure womanizer. The jazzy Lalo Schifrin score is first rate, accenting an already super cool nouvelle vague vibe. Surprised this film doesn't have much of a reputation, it's a real kick.
this mostly sucks and i only watched it bc i wanted to see jane fonda and alain delon together but all of their interactions made me angry so this was a bust. alain delon running around in a pilot uniform almost makes up for how shit this is but like...not quite.
Twisty French noir-thriller with a very fun premise, but it never quite pulls it off completely. I get that some would like that it has so much going on that we never delve into, but in thrillers like this where there are as many red herrings as there can possibly be, I'd like a bit more explanation. Still jazzy, still a hardcore ending, still fun.
Jane Fonda #23
This was really hard to find and I did not expect to like it so but this really came as a surprise to me. This René Clément film is an underrated gem in the thriller genre. With stunning visuals by Henri Dacaë, ace performances by Alain Delon, Jane Fonda, and Lola Albright accompanied by that swinging score? this was a package!
I also have got to mention the stunt scenes with Delon here. Seriously, the amount of times he almost got ran over by a vehicle here were sending me quivers. And dang Jane Fonda, if I were to choose between a mansion in the French Riviera and Alain Delon, I'd also definitely choose both! lol
Henri Decae + Lalo Schifrin + Costa Gavras + peak Alain Delon + peak Lola Albright + May Welland-level Jane Fonda = A house of Joy indeed
Delon plays an incorrigible playboy who flees after an affair with the wife of an infamous gangster boss. He goes into hiding in a shelter for the homeless on the French coast, where he falls under the spell of a wealthy American widow (Albright) and her seemingly naive niece (Fonda, memorable in an early role). A dangerous triangular relationship arises. Logic ain't strongest point of this sexy thriller, but the sunny locations, the actors, the Hitchcockian tension and the cool sixties atmosphere make up for it.
to be honest, i relate to jane fonda’s character here. i, too, will do whatever it takes AND MORE just to make alain delon stay by my side. okay but in all seriousness, this had a potential to be another purple noon, but the story wasn’t it. it works as a thriller, but its narrative is disappointing that it’s a little funny.
p.s. that ending though… you’ll understand why it’s kinda funny lmao
p.p.s. ALAIN. DELON. SPEAKING. IN. ENGLISH.
