Review of Ten Days Wonder

The tormented and unstable young sculptor Charles Van Horn (Anthony Perkins) summons his old family friend Paul Regis (Michel Piccoli) in Paris and tells him that he has weird nightmares followed by amnesia, and last time he had awaked with his hands full of blood. Paul and Charles travel to the countryside to the manor of Charles' stepfather, the millionaire Théo Van Horn (Orson Welles) that is married with the young Hélène Van Horn (Marlène Jobert). Paul is welcomed by the family and along the days, he learns that Charles and Hélène had a love affair and Charles wrote love letters to Hélène. One day, Théo gave a party for two hundred people and the letters were stole. Now they are blackmailed by the thief that demands a large amount to return the letters and Paul helps Hélène to pay the blackmailer. When the extortionist requests more money, Charles and Hélène forge a burglary, but the plan does not work well ending in a tragedy.

"La Décade Prodigieuse" a.k.a. "Ten Days' Wonder" is a slow-paced dramatic thriller by Claude Chabrol. The story based on the Ten Commandments is very well acted but unfortunately it is not difficult to foresee the twist since the number of characters is only five. This DVD has not been released in Brazil and I have just watched a DVD from Pathfinder Home Entertainment. Unfortunately there are no subtitles and in some moments it is very difficult for a non-native in English understand the pronunciation of Orson Welles. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): Not Available