All language subtitles for The Murders in the Rue Morgue - FULL MOVIE starring Val Kilmer - Classic Crime Thriller

[ominous music playing]

[grunts]

[laughs]

[splashing]

[twig snapping]

[screams]

[music playing]

[newsboy yelling]

Extra!

Extra!

[yelling] Extra!

[chatter]

Extra!

Extra!

[music continuing]

[gasp]

[screeches]

[laughs]

Father, I'm home.

My dear.

I missed that.

Am I losing my concentration,
as well as everything else?

You were asleep, father.

That's no excuse
for incompetence.

I used to be able to sleep
and think at the same time.

I was famous for it.

How was "Rigoletto?"

Still in Italian?

Still in Italian.

Still wonderful.

Oh, very good.

Where is Adolphe?

He couldn't meet me.

Something came up.

You went alone?

Uh-huh.

Well, surely he
met you afterwards

and brought you home?

No.

I managed that on
my own, father.

Good night.

Claire, I assume that
you took a carriage?

Yes.

There'll always be enough
money for a carriage at night.

I insist upon that.

Thank you, father.

[train whistle]

[music playing]

Phillipe!

Claire.
Hello.

[laughs]

You didn't recognize
me at all, did you?

I wasn't expecting you.

Well, I've changed.

Last year for your
visit, I was on holiday.

Now I'm engaged.

Well, I had no idea.

Congratulations.

Now that you mention it,
you do look different.

You look--

I'm looking gay.

[laughs] You, on the other
hand, look exactly the same.

Even your boots, as I recall.

[laughs] Well, I stand
by the things I love.

Even your boots?

Down to my very boots.

[chatter]

Claire, I don't understand.

Your father is the best
detective in all of France.

How could they do such a thing.
Why?

Jealousy.

Envy.

The Prefect of Police has held
a grudge against my father

for many years.

He comes to power,
my father is retired.

Unfortunately, power
is a fact of life.

How long has it been?

Almost two months.

I've never seen him this way.

He hardly leaves the house.

He stares out of the
window all day long.

He won't read the
papers and he won't eat.

I'm praying your visit
will be a tonic for him.

He likes you very much.

Auguste Dupin
retired from the force.

Well, well, you look less
like your father every year.

What a relief,
he would have said.

[chuckles] How is your
mother, living out there in that

dreadful, healthy countryside?

What a fate.

Better still, how is your chess?

Come with me.

Father, Phillipe might
like a rest and something

to eat before chess.

I've got to be going.

Nothing comes
before chess, my dear.

Haven't I taught you anything?

[doorbell ringing]

Oh, I'll get that.

Afterwards I've got a pupil.

Goodbye.

You have every right
to be infuriated.

Thank you.
I'm on my way out.

I have a pupil.

I'll escort you.

That's why I came.

I have forsaken my lunch.

How very galant of you.

Is there any use
in my explaining or

would it make things worse?

You might try and
see what happens.

Look, you can imagine my shock
when I returned to my rooms

and found them locked.

There I was, standing
in my everyday clothes,

straight from the bank, and
later all ready for meeting you

at the opera.

Who locked your door?

I did.

Like a fool, I lost my keys.

I'm sorry.

I don't quite
believe your story.

I don't accept your apology.

Should we go to
the ballet on Friday?

Absolutely not.

Wonderful.

I'll meet you there at 8:00.

You will pick me up at 7:30.

You're late, Monsieur
Le Bon, once again.

My mother isn't well.

I had to buy her lunch.

Excuse me.

Monsieur Dupar
wishes to see you.

[knock on door]

DUPAR: Come in.

Le Bon, Monsieur.

Oh, Monsier Le Bon.

Madame L'Espanaye.

Madame.

Mademoiselle L'Espanaye.

Mademoiselle.

Monsieur.

Our young Monsieur
Le Bon, I wish

you to accompany Madame
L'Espanaye and her daughter

to their home in the
Rue Morgue, on foot.

Madame has a fear of carriages.

They have made a
withdrawal in gold coins.

You will carry it for them and
see them safely to their door.

With pleasure, Monsieur Dupar.

[music playing]

Thank you.

Sorry.

Goodbye.

He would never
have stood for it.

Never.

What?

Who were you just referring to?

Your father, of course.

That's incredible.

We haven't spoken a
word in 10 minutes.

The last thing we
talked about was--

The port.

And from the port, your
attention returned to the game.

You concentrated for a
time, made your move.

But then your eyes
drifted over to my globe,

the same globe I had in my
office at police headquarters,

the same globe you used to
study as a child on your visits

to your father's
office next door.

Then you reached for
the port, but you

stopped, recalling, I
suspect, your father's

intense hatred of alcohol.

It was at that moment Claire
began playing the Chopin.

You looked away.

Your eyes filled, and you
remembered the music box

in his office, the
very same melody

that she's working on now.

And you thought about him.

And that's when I said, he
would never have stood for it,

supposing that,
unlike me, he would

not have allowed himself to be
pensioned off without a battle.

My thoughts precisely.

I'm sorry, Auguste.

Don't feel badly.

I often wonder why I
accepted it without a fight.

I seem to have lost all
stamina, all forcefulness.

I tell you, my boy, you
don't know what it's like not

having a job without work--

the humiliation,
the uselessness,

the fear of not having a
roof over your family's head.

And the rage, the
absolute, powerless rage.

Excuse me.

I can't help but thinking
that my presence here

reminds him of my father
and of better times.

Perhaps my presence is
too painful for him.

Perhaps I should go home.

No, that would devastate him.

He was worried that you
wouldn't come at all

now that he's off the force.

That would just
convince him of it.

It's quite obvious
he adores you.

The son he never had?

Apparently.

And how does he get
along with your fiancé?

Adolphe is it?

Quite well.

Good night, Phillipe.

When am I going to get
a chance to meet him?

I thought perhaps he would
drop by this evening.

Why is that?

Well, I suspect that
if I were your fiancé,

I would want to drop by and
visit you every evening.

How exciting.

[music playing]

[clanging]

[laughs]

[shaking]

[screaming]

[distant screaming]

[whistles]

My God, what was that?

[whistles]

It's coming from
the old lady's house.

[chatter]

Terrible.

Let's spread out.

You fellas search
the first floor.

The rest of you, follow me.

[distant yelling]

We're coming in.

[grunts]

You fellas come with me.

The rest of you, stay put.

Check them thoroughly.

I'll open the bag.

Screams, blood,
razor-- everything

you need for a murder.

Search the whole house,
every floor, every room.

Look outside as well.

If you find anything, call me.

Don't touch.

[chatter]

Some fight, huh?

You ever tried lifting one of
those mattresses by yourself?

This guy was big.

Well, maybe two or three guys.

So where are they?

They didn't come down
because we were coming up.

The windows were
all shut and nailed.

Where the hell are
the detectives?

Pick that up.

[yells]

Good god.

[gasp]

Over here.

Over here.

Your preliminary findings?

As yet, no apparent motive.

No trace of the killer, or
killers, Monsieur le Préfet.

Only the razor, a common type.

But surely he
entered and exited.

I don't see him in
the room, do you?

How did he get in?

How did he escape?

The windows are all nailed
shut, Monsieur le Préfet.

The chimney is too
narrow by a great deal,

and the drop door to
the roof has been sealed

tight and bolted for years.

The doors are
locked from within.

The gendarme and the
neighbors came up the stairs.

Surely they would have
seen someone going down.

A superb piece of
deduction, Alphonse.

Tear this place apart.

Look for secret passages.

Look for something.

Look for anything.

I have screaming people out
there, frightened to go home.

By tomorrow morning, thanks to
the press, the whole of Paris

will be terrified.

One of them is squeezed
to death and then stuffed

up a chimney like a rag doll.

The other has her head
cut off by a razor.

Do you know how much
strength that takes?

I want these bodies
examined here.

No one is to see
what has been done

to them without my consent.

Find something.

Find it quickly.

I will not be at the
mercy of the press

through your incompetence.

What a mess!

[chatter]

What's going on?

Did anybody see what happened?

No.

Monsieur le Préfet,
do you have any--

Gentlemen, move.

Gentlemen.

Gentlemen, I shall make a
statement to the neighbors.

You may take it down.

Good people, good people,
go back to your homes.

Rest assured that this case is
being handled only by the best,

and the rest is imminent.

You have my word, imminent.

No more questions.

[chatter]

When we got inside, the
screaming had stopped,

but then we heard voices.

One was definitely a Frenchman.

The other, hard to
say, German, Spanish?

No, I think definitely German.

No doubt.

Might even have been a woman.

German woman, perhaps, though
I don't speak the language.

German, yes.

It was real angry
and loud, you know?

Hard to make out the words.

One was a Frenchman.

I'd say that.

The other sounded Italian.

I don't speak it myself,
but it sounded Italian,

if you know what I mean.

It must have been
Italian, or Swedish.

I live right next door.

I've spoken to them
any number of times.

Hello, goodbye,
nice day, like that.

And it wasn't their voices
we heard going up the stairs.

One was a man, French.

The other could have been
a man, a foreigner maybe.

Shrill, you know,
maybe even oriental.

But it wasn't their voices,
you can quote me on that.

Achmo Duval, businessman.

And how well
did you know them?

I have known them
close to three years.

She was a seamstress, I
believe, the old lady.

I worked for them.

They were always very
affectionate with each other.

It was just the two
of them, no servants.

"No one gave evidence
to the same effect.

No one was spoken of as
frequenting the house.

It is not known
whether there are

any living relatives of Madam
L'Espanaye and her daughter."

Hmm.

"The windows at the front of
the house were seldom used,

and those on the
back of the house

were never used,
with the exception

of the large back
room, fourth story."

Hmm.

"A murder so mysterious,
so perplexing,

and all its particulars
was never before committed

in all of Paris,
if indeed a murder

has been committed at all."

Nonsense.

"The police seem
entirely at a loss."

How unusual.

"There does not seem to be,
however, a shadow of a clue

apparent."

Well, this is really the
most astonishing crime.

Auguste, how will you
begin to solve it?

I'm sorry, Phillipe,
but what were you saying?

The murders in the Rue Morgue.

Forgive me.

Auguste, you've spent
your entire life solving

the most impossible crimes.

You cannot have lost
interest so quickly.

Your ambition to be a
detective is admirable,

and I will continue to encourage
you in every way I can.

Would you like some more
coffee, another croissant?

No.

Thank you.

But Auguste--

My passion for the work
seems to have vanished.

I'm sorry.

[doorbell ringing]

I'll-- I'll go
and see who it is.

Beck, Alfonse.

Gentlemen, what
are you doing here?

Those outfits are
very attractive.

Forgive us, Inspector.

We can't afford
to be seen here.

We must speak with
you in confidence.

This is my godson.

You can feel free.

It's like this--

You must understand--

Well, you've seen the papers
this morning, Inspector.

I've heard, yes.

Most puzzling problem.

No leads.

No witnesses.
Zero.

Vit.

He's demanding
immediate results.

The neighbors are terrified.

I don't doubt it.

Get to the point, please.

Come in on the
case, Inspector.

He'll never know.

You must see the absolute need
for your services, the public.

We'll escort your
service in secret.

Consult with us.

You expect me to agree
to such a proposal?

I should have known.

No, gentlemen.

For 42 years I went into
battle with every case

that was put before me.

The solution of a crime
made my blood pump.

I thought it was my
reason for living.

Nothing came before
my work, nothing.

When my wife died, I was
out sorting for buttons

from a dead man's shirt.

And I never regretted it.

Never, not once.

I had a high calling,
an honorable cause,

the public trust.

I thought it was my life.

I let it become my life.

And I'm a fool because of it.

No.

I can no more consult
with you than I

can apologize to the dead.

Father, you've
got to do something.

Adolphe has been arrested!

Adolphe arrested?

On what charge?
- Murder.

Murder?

Murder of whom?

The Rue Morgue, those women.

It's outrageous.

They can't go around
arresting innocent people.

Well, they can,
and they do often.

Of course, the bank clerk.

I knew the name was familiar.

Let me see.

He is the man that
escorted the women

home with all the gold.

The gold was recovered?

Every coin,
right at the scene.

There seems to be
absolutely no motive.

And what's even
more astonishing,

they cannot discover
how the killer

got there or how he left.

Amazing strength the fellow had.

I'm terrified.

And with good reason.

But if he's innocent,
and I assume he is,

he'll be freed in due course.

Is that all you can say?

Well, we'll keep a close
watch on all developments,

a close watch.

You must free him now.

My dear, I can't do that.

I'm not a judge.

I'm not even an
Inspector any longer.

Father, you have influence.

You must use your influence
and have him freed immediately.

And you must understand
what has happened.

I'm out to pasture.

The Prefect of Police wants
nothing to do with me.

If you offered your
assistance on the case--

[chuckles] It's the last
thing he wants, I'm afraid.

As far as he's concerned,
I'm a doddering, old remnant.

Is that what you are?

Claire.

What?

What's the difference?

He sits around the whole
day with the shades drawn,

bemoaning the state of his
life, chastising his enemies,

ignoring his friends,
and pitying himself.

Forgive me, but I think
the Prefect is right.

You don't seem to have
heard what I've said.

What I hear is that you
want no part of this calamity.

I am powerless to help you.

No, you're not!

You cut yourself off.

You live in this room.

Father, you are one of the
most respected men in the city.

Every gendarme we pass on
the street reveres you,

and you know that.

The Prefect is one man.

Surely there are others
that you can approach.

I will approach no one.

Oh, oh, out of pride.

That's it, isn't it?

Because you will
not permit yourself

to take one step forward,
Adolphe will remain in prison?

Your pride is poisoning you.

It's poisoning us all.

My god.

She's-- she's overwhelmed.

It's her fiancé.

She's right.

She will regret every word.

She's right.

She's absolutely right.

I've allowed myself to become
pathetic, a pathetic, old man,

revolting.

Did you buy all of the
morning papers from them?

No.
No.

Not all of them.

Bring them now, please.

I have an apology to make.

Phillipe, there's
work to be done.

[music playing]

AUGUSTE (VOICEOVER):
"There was not

an inch of any portion
of the house, which

was not carefully searched.

We pushed brushes up
and down the chimneys,

all too narrow to admit the
passage of a human being.

There is no back staircase
by which anyone could

have descended while
the party proceeded

up to the fourth floor.

The body of
Mademoiselle L'Espanaye

was so firmly wedged
into the chimney

that it could not be got
down till four or five men

were brought together.

The corpse of the
young lady was said

to be bruised and
excoriated, as if she

had been throttled to death
by some person or persons.

The corpse of the
mother was understood

to be horribly mutilated."

The room was locked from
within and the windows

were nailed shut.

[music continuing]

Any motive for
the murder, sir?

We have no motive as yet.

Well, you must be able
to give us something, sir.

We've heard that some of the
victims had been found naked.

Yeah.

The women were
all fully clothed.

Was there any
robbery involved, sir?

Have you ever seen
anything like it?

Oh, Auguste.

[laughs] Join us
for lunch, Auguste.

We are just going down
the street to [french]..

Some other time, Jacques.

Thank you.

Morning, Inspector.

Good to see you, sir.
- Good morning, monsieur.

Thank you.
Nice to see you.

[typing]

It was the most
awful afternoon

at the bank you can imagine.

My head was thumping.

I kept seeing stars in
the corners of my eyes.

Oh, a migraine.

Exactly that.

I could hardly see to put
my key in the front door.

I threw the door open and my
briefcase fell on the floor.

Did you close the door?

No.

I staggered for the stairs.

Your landlady,
Adolphe, was she in?

Any of your neighbors?

You see, if they heard
you or saw you then--

Nobody.

Not a sign of anybody.

Perhaps my landlady
was lying down.

The next morning, my briefcase
was just where I left it

and the door was closed.

I must have passed
out immediately.

Only to wake up to this.

This, yes.

And tell me, what exactly
is your father doing for me?

Why, everything
he can, of course.

Of course.

You mustn't
worry about Claire.

What?

Oh, no.

My angel.

I just can't believe
anyone thinking you

capable of doing such a thing.

Monsieur le Préfet will
see you now, Inspector.

Dupin, I can only
give you a moment.

I'm on my way out.

I expected no more than a
moment, Monsieur le Préfet.

What exactly is it?

I believe you've
arrested an innocent man

and charged him with these
murders in the Rue Morgue.

Is that a fact?

I'm not telling you anything
you don't know already, sir.

Dupin, are you suggesting
that I knowingly arrest

innocent people for murder?

Just this once.

What do you want?

Release Adolphe Le
Bon into my custody.

You are out of your mind.

He is my daughter's fiancé.

I will be responsible for him.

Oh, I sympathize with
you, and I expect the press

will be touched, too--

"only suspect
released in custody

of future father-in-law."

They'd hang me by my thumbs.

Haven't they begun
to do that already?

He will be given
every opportunity

to explain his innocence.

Now, if you will excuse me.

Monsieur, every
shopkeeper in Paris

knows the boy is innocent.

His arrest will fool no one.

The people will
be terrified when

the sun goes down until you
capture the real killer.

I suppose you've
solved the case.

Retired from the force,
practically feeble-minded,

or have you forgotten?

Dupin, I would appreciate
you using the backstairs.

I wouldn't want an appearance
together to confuse the press.

I'm sure you wouldn't.

You will not release him then?

Isn't it wonderful
how we can still

detest one another, Dupin?

A never-ending delight,
Monsieur le Préfet.

[music playing]

You all right, Claire?

Oh, yes.

I love visiting my
fiancé in prison.

It makes me feel so much
a part of everything.

I'm sorry, Phillipe.

It's good of you
to come with me.

You don't like Adolphe, do you?

Well, the circumstances
are hardly the best.

Honestly, what did
you think of him?

Handsome, very sophisticated,
probably quite charming.

I didn't like him
even a little bit

and I have no idea why you
would want to marry him.

That is what you
expected me to say.

Yes, but it's not
what I hoped you'd say.

[music playing]

What happened?

Nothing unexpected.

Tell me about Adolphe.

How was your meeting?

He lied to us.

I watched him very closely.

He was dissembling.

Claire was very emotional.

Lied about what?

Well, he said that on
the evening of the murder,

he was home very early
in bed with a headache.

He saw no one.

No one saw him.

I didn't believe
him for a moment.

He was hiding something from us.

I wonder.

Surely you don't
think that he committed

these horrible murders?

Come with me.

Where are we going?

The Rue Morgue, of course.

What is your opinion of
these murders, Phillipe?

My opinion is that they
are an insoluble mystery.

Everything that I've read,
and I've read everything,

I see no possible way
to trace the murders.

Police are baffled,
and how will they

begin to outthink the police?

Exactly that.

Police are cunning, but no more.

The logic in their
proceedings is more method.

The last crime solved, how
it's always been done before.

They're very earnest,
but without imagination,

totally lacking in the
analytical approach.

[chuckles] They're more
method than madness.

He was afraid of me, Phillipe.

I could see it in his eyes.

Twice in the last 10
years I've been brought in

on cases that he
could not puncture

and I solved them with reason.

Now, with his cape
and his smile,

he finds himself stuck
on a very narrow ledge.

[chuckles] How I would
love to save him.

Come along.

I recognize the
gendarme at the gate.

Perhaps we're in luck.

I could lose my job
for this, Inspector,

but I'll be hanged if I'm
going to turn you away.

There has just been so many
other men there as it is.

Well, I'm very
grateful myself.

None of these fellows
can figure it out,

not even the boss.

Grisly, awful thing.

The wife is scared.

Be brief, Inspector.

They're all due back any time.

Auguste, I've never
seen a room in such--

Look carefully, Phillipe.

Use logic.

Auguste, you've seen murder
scenes before, of course,

but such violent and rage.

I've heard enough
excuses for a lifetime.

A terrified town out there.

This case should have
been solved by now.

Well, what a surprise.

It never occurred to me that
you'd be scuttling around here.

Just paying my respects, sir.

Another future son-in-law?

Phillipe Huron, Monsieur.

Dupin, I could have
put away for this.

You are a tiresome,
old fool and I will not

have you meddling in this case.

You understand?

Unless, of course, you've
discovered some evidence

on your little visit
here, in which case

it would your duty to tell me.

What evidence could I possibly
uncover after all the hours

that you have spent
investigating this case?

Dupin, any further
infractions from you and I

will make sure that you
forfeit the small pension

you already have.

Do not be seen here
again or you wish you'd

stayed at your chessboard.

No more warnings, Dupin.

The idea of that fool
talking to you in that manner.

Auguste, you haven't said a word
since we left the Rue Morgue.

Is there nothing
you can tell me?

I've tried every
single connection.

I cannot, for the
life of me, figure

out how a killer
could get inside

or outside of that house.

Why are we here?

Forgive me, Phillipe.

If you wait here,
I won't be long.

Inspector, am
I to be released?

Is that why you're here?

Sit down, Adolphe.

What is it?

What do you want?

An address with a name.

I don't understand, Inspector.

I think you understand.

An address with a name
now, Adolphe, or I

will do everything
I possibly can

to see that you are guillotined
for these murders in the Rue

Morgue.

This is an address.

There's a name with it.

Go there and find
out what you can.

Take it wherever it
leads you, wherever.

I have some errands to run.

I'll expect a full
report in the morning.

You shall have one, Auguste.

[music playing]

[chatter]

Are you closing
early this afternoon?

Oh, I wish.

Are you a member
of the explorers?

No, I'm afraid I'm not.

Oh, some
identification will do.

Where has everyone gone?

Home.

Home, before dark.

Do you know what a
homicidal maniac is?

I've heard the term.

I live near the Rue
Morgue and my brother

is coming to get me in an hour.

It's not just women he's after.

People are saying
he's indiscriminate.

Thank you.

I'll-- I'll be on my guard.

[music playing]

Yes?

I'd like to place
an advertisement.

Is it too late for
the morning edition?

Please, come in.

Look out.

Get out of the way, fool.

Hello, monsieur.

Father, is that you?

The very same, my dear.

Have you been home long?

I've been home since 4:00.

Ah, a greeting like
that I don't mind.

On the contrary.

Where have you been?

Where's Phillipe?

I have been at the
scene of the crime,

and a ghastly scene it is, too.

Do we have any food?

I could eat a sheep.

I'm making a stew.

The butcher extended us credit
till the end of the month.

[laughs] Good for the butcher.

Phillipe is doing some
legwork, learning the trade.

I have a bit of reading
to finish before dinner.

Father, have
they called you in?

Are you involved in
this investigation?

[chuckles] I've called me in.

We can't have the entire city
quaking in its boots, can we?

We can't have people
murdered in their homes

and innocent men arrested.

No, we can't.

You really love it, don't you?

It's almost better than
chess, my dear, isn't it?

Ah, meat, I do
remember that smell.

But father, what
about Adolphe?

I suppose Phillipe told
you he has no alibi.

He was sick in bed the
night of the murders.

Nobody saw him.

Don't worry about it.

Don't worry?

Well, how can I not worry?

Claire, he is
innocent of this crime

and I'm going to see that
he's freed, shortly, I hope.

I knew you would.

You really believe
he's innocent?

Well, if you're so sure then
you must know who did it.

The murderer is, as they say
in the novels, still at large.

[music playing]

[grunts]

[thump]

Hello, my dear.

What is it?

You lied to me.

I did?

About what?

If you were so convinced
of Adolphe's innocence,

why did you interrogate
him like a common thief?

It wasn't an
interrogation, my dear.

You threatened him.

I'm more convinced
of his innocence

now than I was last night.

Yet you told him you'd
send him to the guillotine.

Is that what you
suggest to innocent men?

I suggested to him the
consequences of his not

being forthright.

Who's not being forthright?

I don't want to
hear any more of it.

Excuse me if I interrupted.

No, come in.

Come in.

I'm afraid I have some
unpleasant news to report.

It can wait.

It's-- it's heartbreaking.

Yes, well, isn't
that what youth is

about, heartbreak and ecstasy?

Come, we're returning to
the house in the Rue Morgue.

Tonight?

Yes.

We're testing a theory and
we've got to move quickly.

I'm expecting a visitor, at
least I assume he will appear,

and I don't want him
here before we return.

Oh, there's a small tool
case in the kitchen closet.

Bring it, will you?

I'll meet you outside.

We're indulging in a carriage.

Phillipe, these
murders are considered

to be unsolvable for the
very reason that they

should be considered
to be easy to solve,

the outrageousness of it.

The police and my dear
friend, the Préfet,

are confounded by the
seeming absence of motive,

not so much for the murders.

But for their atrocity?

Yes.

And what about these voices
at the top of the stairs?

In all of your reading
of the evidence,

the witnesses, the
newspapers, did

you observe anything peculiar?

Everyone seemed to agree
that the gruff voice was that

of a Frenchman,
but everyone seemed

to disagree about the
shrill voice, the harsh one.

Yes.

Each witness said it
was a foreign voice

and each suggested a language
totally unfamiliar to them.

Keep that in your head.

Remember that.

It lends a tendency
to our inquiries

in the rooms on the
fourth floor, Rue Morgue.

[bell tolling]

[music playing]

Chisel, skeleton
key, lock picks.

I've made some interesting
friends over the years.

So the doors leading
from here to the hallway,

and from the kitchen,
were securely locked.

The key's inside.

No one could have escaped
through the windows

of the front room without
the notice of the crowd

in the street, agreed?

Yes.

Not even a cat could have
passed through at the top.

What does that leave us?

The windows, but
that's impossible.

The police said the
windows are nailed shut.

We must disprove
the impossible.

Hmm.

Stout nail, in
almost to the head,

but the police seem not to have
bothered to withdraw the nails

and lift the sashes.

But if the windows are
nailed shut, Auguste--

Reason, Phillipe.

It has to be the windows.

The murderers could
not have refashioned

the sash from the inside.

Therefore, the sashes
must have the ability

to refashion themselves.

There's no escaping this concl--

oh, a spring.

Anyone passing through the
window would have re-closed it

and the spring
would have caught.

But the nail, the nail could
not have been replaced.

It must be the
other window then.

Let's see.

But the springs must be
the same as the other window.

The nail.

It must be a difference
between the nail.

Broken.

[chuckles]

Astonishing.

Logical.

Entirely logical.

Come quickly.

Yes, but how could
the killer descend?

More importantly,
how could he get

up there in the first place?

Do you remember our walk
behind the house up the alley?

Yes, of course.

But how observant
were you that afternoon?

That lightning rod, Phillipe,
roughly about five feet

from the very window
we've been discussing.

A man couldn't have
claim that lightning

rod, let alone into the window.

Yes, but look at the shudder.

At right angles to the
building, the lower half

presents an excellent handhold.

And when fully open, it's only
about two feet from the gutter

and the lightning rod.

We must hurry.

But who could have climbed
up that lightning rod

and swung across the shutter
and into an open window

four flights up?

An extraordinary
individual, yes.

Let's consider two facts.

First, the amazing
agility needed,

and second, the peculiar, shrill
voice about whose nationality

no two witnesses could agree.

Don't speak, think.

Consider the room itself--

total disarray, clothes
strewn all over the desk,

the mattress tossed as though
with ease across the room,

and the gold intact.

4,000 francs, abandoned
gold all over the floor.

Good.

He has not yet arrived.

You know, Phillipe,
the reason the police

have had such difficulty
establishing a motive

is because there is no motive.

No motive?

Auguste, a murder of such
anger, brutality, the violence

involved?

And what do you have then?

What?

A mad man escaped
from the asylum?

Not an entirely
irrelevant guess.

What do you make of this?

I found it in the chimney.

Well, hair is the
color of the young woman.

Good observation.

But?

But this is much
too coarse, hardly

the hair of a young woman.

Examine this sketch of a hand.

The spread of the
fingers matches

the marks on Mademoiselle
L'Espanaye's throat.

Good god.

[creaking]

I think he's arrived.

The killer?

Conceal it.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Come in.

Please, do come in.

Apparently, you've read my
advertisement in the journal.

I did.

Please, sit down.

Sit down.

May I offer you some port?

Remarkable fellow, this
associate of yours.

I've never encountered
anyone quite like him.

Very animated.

Where is he?

Is he here?

Oh, no.

I was unable to keep him here.

He-- he is quartered
in the Rue du Bourg,

just around the corner.

You can join him in the morning.

I assume you're prepared
to identify him?

I am.

Well, I'll be very,
very sad to part with him.

That won't go unnoticed.

Your trouble, I mean.

It's worth a reward.

I thought it over.

Very generous.

Let's see, what would please me?

I know.

My reward will be
this, you will give me

all the information in your
power about these murders

in the Rue Morgue.

[music playing]

My friend, you mustn't excite
yourself unnecessarily.

I pledge you the
honor of a gentleman,

that we mean you no injury.

We know that you are
innocent of these atrocities

in the Rue Morgue.

How do you know?

Please, sit down.

You have nothing to fear.

You've committed no crime.

On the other hand, you are bound
by every principle of honor

to confess all you.

An innocent man is imprisoned.

I'll tell you
everything I know,

but I bet you're not going
to believe half of it.

[laughs] Try us.

I'm innocent, I swear.

I'll tell you everything.

I've lived with it too long.

Well, take your time.

You're among friends.

Why don't you begin
at the beginning?

I suspect that you
were on a voyage.

Yes, in the Indian Ocean.

We landed at Borneo.

That's where I found it.

And you hope to turn a profit
with him upon your return,

I expect?

I believe you
dressed him in some

of your clothes, a blue jumper?

Yes.

He'd hurt his foot
on the way back and I

wanted him to heal, so I--

I locked him up in my
room, in the closet.

He was ferocious.

The only thing he would
respect was the whip.

And one night, it was very late.

I was coming back from a party.

He broke out of the closet.

His face was covered
with shaving soap

and he had my razor in his hand.

He was staring into
a looking glass.

I didn't know what to think.

When he saw the whip,
he dashed past me.

He was on the street, waiting
for me, waving the razor.

Every time I got close to him,
he was off and running again.

He seemed to go on forever.

The streets were empty.

It must have been
4:00 in the morning.

I didn't cross a soul.

I was barely able to keep up.

Finally, after
crossing the river,

he ran down a narrow street
and turned up an alley.

There was a large
house on the corner.

There was a light
from a top window

and it must have caught his eye.

A long pipe ran up the
side of the building.

Grabbed the shutter and he
swung himself to the window

with a razor in his hand,
and he jumped inside.

I didn't think twice.

I've climbed a lot
of rigging in my day.

I had to get up there.

I had to.

I had no idea who was in that
house or what he might do.

Just as I reached the level of
the windows, the screams began.

[screaming]

The screams frightened him,
and the way she was struggling.

Suddenly he reached out
and he cut her throat.

[screaming]

The blood put him in a frenzy,
so he went for the other one--

she had fainted-- and
started strangling her.

That's when he saw me.

Stop it!

Get out!

And then he started stuffing
the body up the chimney.

Then he must have
grabbed the other one

and flung her out the window.

By that time I was
on my way down.

I must have slipped.

My hands were all cut up.

I don't even
remember going home.

Hmm.

Well, is this yours?

It's tied in a sailor's knot.

I found it at the foot
of the lightning rod.

My friend, I'm afraid we have
another surprise for you.

Your associate is still loose.

He's loose?

But we'll capture him.

Where is he?

Do you have a net?

Yeah.

Real thick closter
back at my rooms.

Good.

We must move quickly.

I have every reason
to believe that he's

living near the Rue Morgue in
a natural habitat, the Bourg.

Of course.

The beggar strangle
near the pond.

I read it in the papers.

I'll go to headquarters
and alert the police.

If you will please
fetch your net

and meet us at the
pond in the Bourg, hmm?

Phillipe, I want you to
go to the newspapers.

Give them the entire story,
just as we've uncovered it,

before the Prefect of
Police attempts to turn

it to his own advantage.

And join us at the Bourg.

Oh, and send the reporters, too.

Auguste, we must tell Claire
now that Le Bon will be freed.

We know the killer.

Yes.

You must tell her
everything that you found.

Ev-- but there's
no need for that now.

Why hurt her?

She doesn't need to know.

She doesn't?

But I haven't
even told you yet.

How do you know?

Very well.

You tell her what you wish.

[music playing]

[knock on door]

Excuse me.

May I speak to you for a moment?

Certainly.

Is something wrong, Phillipe?

No.

Where are you going?

Come in.
- No.

No.

I just have a moment.

Quite simply, your father
has discovered the murderer,

and Adolphe is sure to
be released immediately.

What?

Your father is on his way
to the police headquarters

with the story
and I am on my way

to the newspapers
with the information.

He's done it!

Adolphe will be freed.

They'll have to reinstate
father now, won't they?

I-- I--

I have to go to the newspapers.

Wait.

What is it you're
not telling me?

Is it about the murderer?

I-- I have to go.

Wait.

I'm-- I'm coming along.

I'll just get my things.

Who's name was
written on that paper?

Who's address was it?

You must understand, we
had to find an alibi for him

in order to clear him.

Who was it?

A woman.

Well, I didn't think
it was his dentist,

the way he'd been carrying on.

Who was she?

Her name is Marie Armand.

He spent the night at her house.

And?

Claire, isn't that enough?

No.

She said she was his fiancée.

His fiancée?

But that's impossible.

How could she-- no.

What else did you find out?

I did a complete
investigation.

That was my assignment.

Since he has known you, he
has been engaged to three

other women, all quite wealthy.

Apparently he picked up his
information at the bank.

Claire, I wish I'd
never found out.

My father knows, doesn't he?

I told him nothing.

He knows.

He probably knew from
the first day we met.

I chose not to look.

He's a superb judge of
character, my father.

I'm sorry for keeping you.

Let's go.

Claire.

I'm sorry.

You are kind.

You are, despite your
boots, quite a gentleman.

And I'm a lot stronger
than you might expect.

Inspector.

Is he here?

He's not to be disturbed.

I'm going to
have you arrested.

Well, committed perhaps.

The killer is in the Bourg.

Oh, nonsense.

Call the gendarme.

A night behind bars
will do you good.

Then I'm going to have
your pension revoked.

What are you-- what are you--

what are you doing?

Don't.

For the good of Paris, I
ought to squeeze your temples

together until they meet.

Monsieur le Préfet.

Inspector Dupin.

Seize him.

Sergeant, hold your
ground and you'll be

a Lieutenant before nightfall.

Now you listen to me,
I have Le Bon's alibi.

I have proof of the
killer's identity

and the confession
of his accomplice.

Ramblings of a lunatic.

And the press is on its way
to the Bourg at this moment

with the details of my
investigation for the morning

editions, all except for
the capture, which you might

wish to supervise yourself.

Will you tell me who did it?

Get your men.

I'll tell you on the way.

-

Well, it's absolutely
out of the question.

The Bourg will be
filled with police.

I'm going along.

He's a killer.

You've read the reports.

You know what he's done.

Now it's absolutely
too dangerous.

It's just what I need right
now, a little dangerous.

I mean, scare me out of my wits.

Is there any chance of that?

No.

Yes.

What do you think
your father would say?

Now, you just mustn't.

Is it my father's anger or
my safety you're worried about?

Choose one.

It's no use.

I'll follow you or I'll go by
myself or I'll go with the.

Claire, if you promise
to stay very close.

Absolutely yes.

[chatter]

A real break in the case.

Gentlemen, I--

Dupin.

Monsieur le Préfet.

I will lead the men in.

I want you to stay behind.

You and the sailor, I don't
want you wandering off alone.

This could be dangerous.

I suggest a slow sweep through
the woods at arm's length.

This is not your
common criminal.

Of course, a sweep.

A slow sweep at arm's
length with torches.

Forward slowly.

[music playing]

Slowly.

Slowly.

I'm Claire Dupin,
the pond is over there.

Monsieur le
Préfet, have your men

watch the trees, as
well as the ground.

Watch the trees, you fools.

[screech]

[gasp]

It's right over there.

[tear]

[growls]

[screaming]

Go.

Monsieur le
Préfet, how closely

did you work with Inspector
Dupin on the case?

Like brothers, hand-in-glove
every step of the way.

Exactly.

Yet you kept his presence
on the case a secret.

Why was that?

We thought he was retired.

We thought it best to hide his
identity, until now, of course.

Inspector Dupin, the
city owes you a great debt.

Are we to assume that you will
resume activities as usual?

Of course, without a doubt.

Quite clearly we work well
together, like brothers.

And obviously he's
the best man I have.

Well, Inspector, are you
ready to return full-time?

Are you willing to give
up your retirement?

I wouldn't have
it any other way.

One must make a sacrifice from
time to time, mustn't they?

Gentlemen, let me go over
some details of the case.

Yes, please do.

[chatter]

[music playing]

Well, it's finally over.

Dear, oh, dear.

It's here.

[grunting]

[music playing]