The Beast Must Die

Original title: La bestia debe morir

1952
1h 35m

IMDb RATING

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Guillermo Battaglia, Laura Hidalgo, and Narciso Ibáñez Menta in The Beast Must Die (1952)

When his child is hit by a car, a writer of thrillers is desperate to avenge his death and goes in search of the murderer.When his child is hit by a car, a writer of thrillers is desperate to avenge his death and goes in search of the murderer.When his child is hit by a car, a writer of thrillers is desperate to avenge his death and goes in search of the murderer.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

618

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Nicholas Blake, the author of the source novel, is the pen name for Cecil Day-Lewis, the father of Daniel Day-Lewis.

Goofs
In the montage sequence, Martie salutes with his left hand, showing that the negative must have been reversed.

Quotes
Linda Lawson: What are you implying?
Carpax: Nothing. That escapade at my house. You and Rafferty were "playing around."
Linda Lawson: Let me tell you, that wasn't "play." Rafferty was always a beast. He never left me alone, although I was his wife's sister.

Connections
Referenced in The 3 Faces of M (2022)

Soundtracks
Home! Sweet Home!
Music by H.R. Bishop

User reviews9

Featured review

7/10

And So He Does

Narciso Ibáñez Menta is the widowed father of a son. Although a mathematician, since the death of his wife, he has made his living by writing pulpy mysteries under a pseudonym. When the boy is killed in a traffic accident, he plots the driver's death.... and the driver dies by poison. Menta has a perfect alibi.

The first adaptation of Cecil Day Lewis' novel shows some interesting parallels to Day Lewis' life, although he was not, so far as I can tell, implicated in a murder. The distinguished poet, who became the Laureate in 1968 wrote mysteries under the pseudonym of 'Nicholas Blake. The movie is a clear film noir, with lots of foggy night scenes and a major flashback, visually interesting and with a nice degree of sexual heat running through it, that Chabrol's later version muted.