Watch The Burning Court

The Burning Court is a 1962 mystery-thriller film directed by Julien Duvivier and based on the novel of the same name by John Dickson Carr. The film revolves around the mysterious death of a Frenchman, André de Ribes, in a small village in Brittany. The locals suspect that he was killed by the ghostly presence of the notorious Héloïse de Villecourt, who has been haunting the village for hundreds of years.

The film starts with the arrival of André de Ribes (Jean-Claude Brialy) in the village of Ploumariel. He is there to meet his fiancée, Christine van de Bosch (Perrette Pradier), who lives in the village with her mother, Madame van de Bosch (Nadja Tiller). Madame van de Bosch is a wealthy widow who is rumored to be a practicing witch. She has been estranged from her daughter, Christine, since she disapproved of her engagement to André.

As the story progresses, strange things start to happen in the village. A woman is found dead with burn marks on her body, and André begins to see the ghost of Héloïse de Villecourt. The villagers believe that the ghost is responsible for the killings, and they are convinced that it is seeking revenge on the van de Bosch family. The local police, led by Inspector Rohn (Walter Giller), are baffled by the case and suspect that André is somehow involved in the deaths.

As the tension builds, the film becomes a classic whodunit, with several suspects emerging. Madame van de Bosch is one of the prime suspects, as she has a clear motive for killing her future son-in-law. Her past relationships with several of the other villagers also come to light, raising doubts about their motives.

The Burning Court is a tense and atmospheric film, with stunning black-and-white cinematography that creates a sense of foreboding in every scene. The film is also notable for its stellar cast, with Nadja Tiller giving a standout performance as the enigmatic Madame van de Bosch. Jean-Claude Brialy and Perrette Pradier also deliver strong performances as the young couple at the center of the mystery.

Overall, The Burning Court is a must-watch for fans of classic mystery-thrillers. With its eerie setting, complex characters, and nail-biting suspense, it is a timeless classic of its genre.

The Burning Court is a 1962 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.