Originally titled Nous Sommes Tout des Assassins, We Are All Murderers was directed by Andre Cayette, a former lawyer who detested France's execution system. Charles Spaak's screenplay makes no attempt to launder the four principal characters (Marcel Mouloudji, Raymond Pellegrin, Antoinine Balpetre, Julien Verdeir): never mind the motivations, these are all hardened murderers. Still, the film condemns the sadistic ritual through which these four men are brought to the guillotine. In France, the policy is to never tell the condemned man when the execution will occur--and then to show up without warning and drag the victim kicking and screaming to his doom, without any opportunity to make peace with himself or his Maker. By the end of this harrowing film, the audience feels as dehumanized as the four "protagonists." We Are All Murderers was roundly roasted by the French law enforcement establishment, but it won a special jury prize at the 1952 Cannes Film Festival.
Credits
We Are All Murderers Cast
| Name |
Character |
|
Jacqueline Pierreux
She was 29, 82 years old when she died
|
as Yvonne Le Guen |
|
Georges Poujouly
He was 12, 60 years old when he died
|
as Michel Le Guen |
|
Claude Laydu
He was 25, 84 years old when he died
|
as Philippe Arnaud |
|
Léonce Corne
He was 58, 83 years old when he died
|
as Le colonel instructeur |
|
Raymond Pellegrin
He was 27, 82 years old when he died
|
as Gino Bollini |
|
Jean Daurand
He was 38, 75 years old when he died
|
as Girard, l'homme dans la cabine téléphonique |
|
Guy Decomble
He was 41, 53 years old when he died
|
as Un inspecteur |
|
Lucien Nat
He was 57, 77 years old when he died
|
as L'avocat général |
|
Antoine Balpêtré
was 54, 64 years old when died
|
as Dr. Albert Dutoit |
|
Julien Verdier
He was 42, 89 years old when he died
|
as Bauchet |
|
Marcel Mouloudji
He was 29, 71 years old when he died
|
as René Le Guen |
|
Yvonne de Bray
She was 65, 66 years old when she died
|
as La chiffonnière |
|
Henri Crémieux
He was 55, 83 years old when he died
|
as L'avocat de Bauchet |
|
René Blancard
He was 55, 68 years old when he died
|
as Albert Pichon |
|
Louis Arbessier
He was 45, 90 years old when he died
|
as L'avocat du tribunal pour enfants |
We Are All Murderers Crew
| Name |
Department |
|
André Cayatte as Director. He was 43 (80) years old when He died
|
Directing |
