poster

We Are All Murderers

Nous sommes tous des assassins

Release: 1952-05-21 ·Runtime: 117m ·★ 6.6
Crime Drama

Originally titled Nous Sommes Tout des Assassins, We Are All Murderers was directed by Andre Cayette, a former lawyer who detested France's execution system. Charles Spaak's screenplay makes no attempt to launder the four principal characters (Marcel Mouloudji, Raymond Pellegrin, Antoinine Balpetre, Julien Verdeir): never mind the motivations, these are all hardened murderers. Still, the film condemns the sadistic ritual through which these four men are brought to the guillotine. In France, the policy is to never tell the condemned man when the execution will occur--and then to show up without warning and drag the victim kicking and screaming to his doom, without any opportunity to make peace with himself or his Maker. By the end of this harrowing film, the audience feels as dehumanized as the four "protagonists." We Are All Murderers was roundly roasted by the French law enforcement establishment, but it won a special jury prize at the 1952 Cannes Film Festival.

Production Countries

France Italy

Production Companies

Jolly Film
UGC Films
Labor Film

Trailers & Videos

Cast

Lucien Nat Lucien Nat as L'avocat général François Joux François Joux as Saulnier Sylvie Sylvie as Laetitia Bollini François Vibert François Vibert as Maître Mousset René Blancard René Blancard as Albert Pichon Paul Faivre Paul Faivre as Biribi Anouk Ferjac Anouk Ferjac as Agnès Paul Frankeur Paul Frankeur as Léon Renée Gardès Renée Gardès as La mère Le Guen Amedeo Nazzari Amedeo Nazzari as Docteur Detouche (version italienne) Solange Sicard Solange Sicard as La mère d'Agnès Yvonne de Bray Yvonne de Bray as La chiffonnière Charles Lemontier Charles Lemontier as Le procureur Roland Lesaffre Roland Lesaffre as Le détenu-coiffeur Marcel Pérès Marcel Pérès as Malingré Henri Vilbert Henri Vilbert as Mr. Arnaud Raymond Pellegrin Raymond Pellegrin as Gino Bollini Georges Poujouly Georges Poujouly as Michel Le Guen Louis Arbessier Louis Arbessier as L'avocat du tribunal pour enfants Jean Daurand Jean Daurand as Girard, l'homme dans la cabine téléphonique Alexandre Rignault Alexandre Rignault as Le gendarme Yvonne Sanson Yvonne Sanson as Yvonne Le Guen (version italienne) Charles Bouillaud Charles Bouillaud as L'agent (uncredited) Claude Laydu Claude Laydu as Philippe Arnaud Juliette Faber Juliette Faber as Francine Saulnier Elisabeth Hardy Elisabeth Hardy as La mère de la petite fille René Berthier René Berthier as Un monsieur (uncredited) Antoine Balpêtré Antoine Balpêtré as Dr. Albert Dutoit Julien Verdier Julien Verdier as Bauchet Yvette Etiévant Yvette Etiévant as L'épouse de Bauchet Jérôme Goulven Jérôme Goulven as Noblet Jacques Morel Jacques Morel as Charles Line Noro Line Noro as Madame Arnaud Jean-Paul Moulinot Jean-Paul Moulinot as Le directeur de la Santé André Reybaz André Reybaz as Le père Simon Louis Seigner Louis Seigner as L'abbé Roussard Georges Tabet Georges Tabet as Le pianiste Jean-Marc Tennberg Jean-Marc Tennberg as Fredo André Valmy André Valmy as P'tit Louis Marcel Mouloudji Marcel Mouloudji as René Le Guen Jacqueline Pierreux Jacqueline Pierreux as Yvonne Le Guen (version française) Léonce Corne Léonce Corne as Le colonel instructeur Henri Crémieux Henri Crémieux as L'avocat de Bauchet Guy Decomble Guy Decomble as Un inspecteur Monette Dinay Monette Dinay as La femme de Charles Daniel Mendaille Daniel Mendaille as Un gardien Edmond Ardisson Edmond Ardisson as Un garde (uncredited)