User:Thibault-Santonja/Five Forty Hours

Five Forty Hours (Öt óra 40) is a Hungarian film directed by André de Toth, released in Hungary on 12 September 1939.

André De Toth's second movie and first Hungarian thriller, in which the director tries a new genre: the thriller. This genre was not represented on the screen in Hungary, and the criminal dimension was very much moderated by comic or melodramatic elements.

As with The Wedding of Toprin, André de Toth worked with István Eiben as director of photography. Eiben taught him how to create striking shots through technical and symbolic framing. As Eiben was engaged on other projects, they only met again for De Toth's last film before his exile: The Hard life of Ignaz Semmelweis. Following this film, De Toth released Two Girls on the Street a few weeks later.

Plot
In Paris, Marion (Mária Tasnády Fekete) recently separated from her husband (Tivadar Uray). However, her husband, an adventurer, continues to exert his influence on her. She seeks the help of her former fiancé, the investigating judge Henri Tessier (Ferenc Kiss), who is investigating the murder of a famous singer. The investigation soon leads to the husband, also known as Bijou, who denies all the evidence.

Reception
Five Forty Hours won the prize for the most avant-garde film at the Venice Film Festival, thanks to the film's elaborate photography, sophisticated shots and fast pace. The reception from the Lido audience and the press was very positive: "The best Hungarian film for many years. The actors are good, the photography is above average, Ferenc Kiss plays the amorous examining magistrate perfectly. (Variety, 27 December 1939)

Production

 * Original title : Öt óra 40
 * English title: Five Forty Hours or 5:40
 * Director: André de Toth
 * Screenplay: Szatmári Jenő and József Babay
 * Photography: István Eiben
 * Editing: Viktor Bánky
 * Music: Szabolcs Fényes
 * Art Direction: Marton Vincze
 * Country of origin: Hungary
 * Format: Black and White - 1.37:1 - Mono
 * Genre: Drama
 * Running time: 85 minutes
 * Release date: 1939

Cast

 * Mária Tasnádi Fekete : Marion
 * Margit Makay : Eleonora Taccani
 * Ferenc Kiss : Henry Tessier
 * Tivadar Uray : Robert Petrovich