L'assassin connaît la musique...

"L' Assassin Connaît La Musique..." (1963) aka "The Murderer Knows The Score" is a chic if labored black comedy about a composer who can't stand the noise of Paris anymore and is desperately looking for an oportunity to stay in a quiet house in the suburbs. When he meets a rich, divorced woman who lives in a house just like that, it seems that he has hit the jackpot, but - naturally - complications arise. This black comedy is mildly amusing, but never quite explodes into the really funny. Well-acted by Paul Meurisse and a flaky Maria Schell (better known for her dramatic roles). **1/2 out of 4.

A long career from the golden French thirties when he made commendable films noirs .Then a cosmopolitan filmography ,but only one masterpiece : "la Foire aux Chimères" which is still crying to be seen !

"L'Assassin Connait la Musique" is a black comedy,which was not new since Chenal had already transferred to the screen "Clochemerle" .

Taking back the ferocious anti-clericalism of "Clochemerle" ,Chenal calls it quit quite honorably.There's a lot of madness,farce and grand guignol in this last effort,which is fine with me.

Paul -"Diaboliques"-Meurisse portrays a virtuoso trying to compose a symphony,and he has got only three weeks to complete it.Near the apartment where he lives,there's a garage and it's a hammer symphony all day.He meets a divorcée (Maria Schell) who 's a real dumbbell,but,and this is crucial ,who owns a desirable property in the quiet cool country. But this bubble head woman is -apparently- a holier-than-thou person;besides her dear father(Noel Roquevert) is to come to stay with her pretty soon -and he too is a hammering mad!

Some lines are really hilarious ;When her little cousin (Claude Mann) wants to take her to the pictures ,she's horrified "Goin' to a show? just after dad's funeral?".But the gentle cousin lies her on her bed and begins to console her.And she innocently adds "That' s OK ,it's not a show that !"The headlines on the newspaper after her ex-husband 's death are very funny too "his horse takes fire and he gets drowned".As are a shrink 's (Jacques Dufilho)interventions : you CAN commit suicide by beating a hammer on your head!

75 min only and never a dull moment!Schell to her papa's murderer: "thanks to you,he'll go to Heaven!"