A nightclub attracts both visitors and artists from all over the world. Behind the goguettes and gaudisseries there are deeply unpleasant things going on : prostitution, trade in illegal drugs, blackmail. An investigation into a murder causes the police to take an interest in the nightclub, nocturnal fauna included. A middle-aged police inspector gets entangled with a young female singer/addict, professional ethics be damned...
I don't know where the idea behind the title ("The chaos and the night") came from ; it sounds like a 3000-page book written by a pessimistic German philosopher from the nineteenth century.
I'd like to say that this is a minor gem or a forgotten treasure, but it isn't : it's just watchable, more for its general atmosphere than for its intrigue. The pace is slow, the criminal puzzle isn't all that riveting and the "love affair" between the police inspector and the singer doesn't make much sense, except perhaps as an example of the folly of Mankind. On the other hand Danielle Darrieux is very good as Thérèse Marken, a bourgeoise with a taste for dangerous excitement ; watch out for her little speech near the end.
The movie reflects racial attitudes circa 1958. Nowadays some elements feel decidedly racist.
I don't know where the idea behind the title ("The chaos and the night") came from ; it sounds like a 3000-page book written by a pessimistic German philosopher from the nineteenth century.
I'd like to say that this is a minor gem or a forgotten treasure, but it isn't : it's just watchable, more for its general atmosphere than for its intrigue. The pace is slow, the criminal puzzle isn't all that riveting and the "love affair" between the police inspector and the singer doesn't make much sense, except perhaps as an example of the folly of Mankind. On the other hand Danielle Darrieux is very good as Thérèse Marken, a bourgeoise with a taste for dangerous excitement ; watch out for her little speech near the end.
The movie reflects racial attitudes circa 1958. Nowadays some elements feel decidedly racist.