What I admired most about Elevator to the Gallows was its simplicity. The film had a very structured script in where both “cause-and-effect” and fate played key roles. Just when you think you know how things are going to end, the script shifts in a new direction.
The foundations of a great film is a great script. It’s fairly evident that Malle is a competent director - the shots are beautiful and the editing is smooth; but it was the script that held me to my seat.
I also have to give a shout-out to the score by Miles Davis. It is indeed beautiful and cements Elevator to the Gallows as classic noir!
