Diaboliquement vôtre

Alain Delon stars as Pierre, an amnesiac recovering from a car accident. He can't remember any details about the accident or about his past life as a wealthy businessman based in the orient. He is currently being nursed back to health on his palatial estate in the french countryside by his beautiful wife, Christiane (Senta Berger), the family doctor (Sergio Fantoni), and a manservant named Kim (Peter Mosbacher).Paranoia rapidly sets in as he begins to suspect Christiane is not really his wife and that he is the victim of a sinister plot. Despite the standard plot device of someone trying to drive the main character insane or to the point of suicide, "Diaboliquement votre" is not a standard thriller by any means and often takes a detour from the main plot (Pierre's obsessive investigation of his true identity) to show us odd details about the main characters (the masochistic relationship between Christiane and Kim). The result will probably disappoint most mystery fans, especially the anticlimatic ending, but for others, there are things to enjoy here; Alain Delon's playful performance as a victim, a sexy Senta Berger at the height of her beauty, modeling a variety of sixties fashions, Henri Decae's lush cinematography, and some disorientating drug induced dream sequences.

When a viewer watches a thriller directed by Julien Duvivier with Alain Delon and Senta Berger, his or her expectation is of at least of a great film. Unfortunately the swan song of Mr. Duvivier is an absolutely flawed and deceptive film, with a terrible storyline and a screenplay with many plot holes and lack of character development. The situations are absurd and unbelievable and the open ending disappointing. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Diabolicamente Tua" ("Diabolically Yours")

I usually confound this film, in Alain Delon's filmography, with LES FELINS. Same period, same kind of atmosphere; a lonely and handsome - Alain Delon - man somewhere "prisoner" of circumstances, as Clint Eastwood in THE BEGUILED; though this latest comparison is far more obvious with LES FELINS. This Duvivier's feature is less powerful and convincing than the René Clément's one, typical of the fifties and sixties. They don't make such films anymore, with such schemes and topics. But it's good, not the best of this great director, who was shining in the thrities with movies such as LA BANDERA, LA BELLE EQUIPE. Duvivier died after the shooting in a car accident, because of a brain damage.

"Diabolically Yours" from 1967 is a derivative film with parts of Gaslight, Vertigo, Diabolique, take your pick. Directed by Julian Duvivier, who would die in a car accident shortly after this film was made, the film stars Alain Delon and Senta Berger.

Alain Delon wakes up from a three-week coma after a car accident, and he can't remember anything, not even this gorgeous woman who claims to be his wife Christiane (Berger).

Apparently, he is a wealthy businessman named Georges Campo. He is brought to his palatial estate to recover, and he's mighty impressed. There's a doctor there (Sergio Fantoni) and a mysterious servant named Kim (Peter Mosbacher).

It doesn't take Georges long to become suspicious of the whole setup. His wife won't have sex with him which for me is the most ludicrous part of the film, since it's Alain Delon we're talking about.

The name Pierre Lagrange keeps going through his head, and he comes to believe he's a prisoner in the house and part of some plot. Voices in the night tell him he's going crazy and to kill himself, and his dreams are disturbing.

The film keeps us in the dark as we wonder about Christiane's weird relationship with the servant, and just what the doctor's role is.

Despite what you might guess as the film continues, it's actually quite intriguing. Both Delon and Berger are at the height of their eye-popping beauty.

Delon brings humor to the role, as well as playing a confused but determined man. When Chistiane brings a decorator to the house, Delon playfully follows him around, mimicking the man's gait.

Berger looks very sixties with her hair and fashions, looking like the ultimate '60s fashion model, chosen for her beauty. Today she remains not only a beautiful woman, but an incredibly accomplished actress and producer.

The end of the movie won't be to everyone's taste. It wasn't mine.

There is a lot to enjoy here, including the cinematography. In the end, it's a disjointed film but watchable.

I have no way of knowing whether this film might have worked, had I not read the blurb at kanopy, which gave away the game. Talk about a spoiler! There are many film references here, to Plein Soleil, Diabolique, et al., but the film lacks the subtlety and nuance of those creations--at least I think. Would it have been a surprise, if I had not already been told the gist of the story before I watched the film? C'est dommage.