Elevator to the Gallows

A former Foreign Legion parachutist with a cool, calculating mind who meticulously engineers a murder. He relies on a flawless alibi and calm under pressure, but a single overlooked detail traps him inside an elevator. His love for Florence motivates the plan, yet the pursuit of control over fate proves fragile.

Julien’s lover whose resolve and fear drive her to pursue the truth about the crime. She refuses to accept a grim fate and actively seeks to uncover the real sequence of events. Her loyalty to Julien is strong, and she faces the consequences with determination.

Florence’s husband, a wealthy industrialist whose wealth and power anchor the motive for the crime. His role as the target makes him both a symbol of control and a catalyst for the lovers’ desperate plan. His presence haunts the story even after death.

A petty criminal who steals Julien’s car and unwittingly amplifies the crime’s consequences. He turns the plot toward new victims and complicates the lovers’ alibi with his reckless choices. His opportunistic nature directly challenges Julien’s carefully laid scheme.

Louis’s partner who works at a flower shop and becomes a crucial link to Julien’s life. Her misreads and fear weave through Florence’s night of searching, intensifying the sense of danger. She embodies how chance encounters propel the plot toward catastrophe.

A motel guest whose tense encounter with Julien’s circle escalates the stakes. His murder, along with Frieda’s, binds the trail of evidence to Julien. He represents the random violence that disrupts carefully laid plans.

Horst Bencker’s wife, a victim in the motel confrontation. Her death intensifies the police investigation and shifts Florence’s pursuit toward the darker truth reflected in the photo lab. She is a casualty in the chain of momentum started by a lovers’ crime.

The police investigator who pieces the case together from mounting evidence. He explains the grim reality to Florence and reveals how appearances can mislead even as the law closes in. His presence frames the film’s meditation on guilt and accountability.