Eyes Without a Face

Eyes Without a Face
French theatrical release poster
Directed by	Georges Franju
Produced by	Jules Borkon
Screenplay by	Georges Franju Jean Redon Pierre Boileau Thomas Narcejac Claude Sautet
Based on	Les yeux sans visage by Jean Redon
Starring	Pierre Brasseur Edith Scob Alida Valli Juliette Mayniel
Music by	Maurice Jarre
Cinematography	Eugen Schüfftan
Edited by	Gilbert Natot
Production company	Champs-Elysées Productions Lux Film
Distributed by	Lux Film
Release date	2 March 1960 (1960-03-02) (France)
Running time	84 minutes
Country	France Italy
Language	French

Ma Periode Française
Soundtrack album by Maurice Jarre
Released	February, 2005
Genre	Film music
Length	71:11
Label	Play Time

Eyes Without a Face (French: Les yeux sans visage) is a 1960 French-Italian horror film adaptation of Jean Redon's novel, directed by Georges Franju, and starring Pierre Brasseur and Alida Valli. During the film's production, consideration was given to the standards of European censors by setting the right tone, minimizing gore and eliminating the mad-scientist character. Although the film passed through the European censors, the film's release in Europe caused controversy nevertheless. Critical reaction ranged from praise to disgust.

The film received an American debut in an edited and dubbed form in 1962 under the title of The Horror Chamber of Dr. Faustus. In the United States, Faustus was released as a double feature with The Manster (1959). The film's initial critical reception was not overtly positive, but subsequent theatrical and home video re-releases increased its reputation. Modern critics praise the film today for its poetic nature as well as being a notable influence on other filmmakers.

At night just outside Paris, a woman drives along a riverbank and dumps a corpse in the river. After the body is recovered, Dr. Génessier identifies the remains as those of his missing daughter, Christiane Génessier, whose face was horribly disfigured in an automobile accident that occurred before her disappearance, for which her father was responsible. Dr. Génessier lives in a large mansion, which is adjacent to his clinic, with numerous caged German Shepherds and other large dogs.

Following Christiane's funeral, Dr. Génessier and his assistant Louise, the woman who had disposed of the dead body earlier, return home where the real Christiane is hidden (it is explained that Louise is deathlessly loyal to Génessier because he repaired her own badly damaged face, leaving only a barely noticeable scar she covers with a pearl choker). The body belonged to a young woman who died following Dr. Génessier's unsuccessful attempt to graft her face onto his daughter's. Dr. Génessier promises to restore Christiane's face and insists that she wear a mask to cover her disfigurement. After her father leaves the room, Christiane calls her fiancé Jacques Vernon, who works with Dr. Génessier at his clinic, but hangs up without saying a word.