The Deadly Trap [La maison sous les arbres] ** (1971, Faye Dunaway, Frank Langella, Barbara Parkins) – Classic Movie Review 7014

Director René Clément’s 1971 thriller stars Faye Dunaway as Jill, an American in Paris, and Frank Langella as Philippe, her computer wiz boyfriend, who suddenly decides to quit his job. Jill is upset but then she panics when her children are snatched.

Based on Arthur Cavanaugh’s novel The Children Are Gone, this rather trashy and muddled pulp thriller is fairly smartly and picturesquely done by the once renowned Clément.

But there is a feeling of classy acts fallen on bumpy times.

Also in the cast are Barbara Parkins as Cynthia, Maurice Ronet as L’homme de l’organisation / the Stranger, Karen Blanguernon as Miss Hansen, Raymond Gérôme as Commissaire Chameille, Patrick Vincent as Patrick, Michèle Lourie as Cathy, Gérard Buhr as the psychiatrist, Louise Chevalier, Tener Eckelberry, Massimo Farinelli,  Jill Larson, Robert Lussac, Franco Ressel and Dora van der Groen.

The Deadly Trap is directed by René Clément, runs 98 minutes, is made by Corona, Oceania and Pomereu, released by National General Pictures, is written by Sidney Buchman and Eleanor Perry, based on Arthur Cavanaugh’s novel The Children Are Gone, shot in Eastmancolor by Andréas Winding (director of photography) and Georges Pastier (camera operator), adaptation by René Clément and Daniel Boulanger, produced by Georges Casati (executive producer), Bertrand Javal and Robert Dorfman, and scored by Gilbert Bécaud, with Art Direction by Jean André.

It was released in the lower half of a double bill with The National Health.

Ronet also starred in Clément’s Plein Soleil.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7014

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