DirectorHenri-GeorgesClouzot’smaidenfeature-lengtheffortwastheintricatemysterythrillerTheMurdererLivesatNumber21(L’Assassinhabiteau21).BusinesslikehomicidedetectiveWens(PierreFresnay)goesontheprowlforamethodicalmassmurderer,whoseeminglymanagestobeeverywhereatonce.Followingaconfusingtrailofcluestoaseedyboardinghouse,Wensdisguiseshimselfasaclergymaninordertogaintheconfidenceoftheboarders,hopingthatoneofthemwillmake"thatfatalslip."Alloftheboardersareeventuallytakenintocustody,onlytobereleasedwhenthemurderscontinueunabated.Wenscracksthecasewhenhefiguresoutthattheseeminglycontradictorycluesaretheby-productofabizarreconspiracy.Filmedin1942underwartimeconditions,TheMurdererLivesatNumber21wasfinallyreleasedintheU.S.fiveyearslater.~HalErickson,Rovi
