The Deadly Trap movie storyline. Jill (Faye Dunaway) and her husband Philip (Frank Langella) are an American couple living in Paris together with their two small children. Philip is currently an office worker, but he used to be involved with some shady organization which now wants him to do one more job for them. Meanwhile, Jill and Philip are having marital problems, which are exacerbated by Jill’s mental instability—she has memory lapses and paranoid suspicions of Philip being unfaithful.
The couple also has a neighbor, Cynthia, who shows an unusual interest in their affairs. One day, when Jill is out for a walk with the children, they go missing. The couple contacts the police but Inspector Chameille, who leads the investigation, is unsure whether the children were actually kidnapped or harmed by their erratic mother.
A leisurely but cunningly paced story which starts off looking like a Woman’s Own romance, and by the time it’s finished has somehow involved you in domestic drama, murder, kidnapping and espionage intrigue. The ending has an impact similar to the punchline of a shaggy dog story, but the lead-up is always interesting thanks to Clément’s nice Hitchcockian-flavoured style and deft use of menacingly ‘ordinary’ locations.
The Deadly Trap (French: La Maison Sous les Arbres) is a 1971 French suspense drama film directed by René Clément. It was screened at the 1971 Cannes Film Festival, but was not entered into the main competition.
The Deadly Trap (1971)
Directed by: René Clément
Starring: Faye Dunaway, Frank Langella, Barbara Parkins, Karen Blanguernon, Raymond Gérôme, Maurice Ronet, Michele Lourie, Patrick Vincent, Jill Larson, Louise Chevalier, Massimo Farinelli
Screenplay by: Daniel Boulanger, Sidney Buchman, René Clément, Ring Lardner, Jr.
Cinematography by: Georges Pastier, Andréas Winding
Film Editing by: Françoise Javet
Set Decoration by: Robert André, Marc Desages, Georges Glon
Art Direction by: Jean André
Makeup Department: Aïda Carange, Simone Knapp
Music by: Gilbert Bécaud
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: National General Pictures
Release Date: June 9, 1971
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