Dominique (Marie Dubois) can't stand that Julie (Carole Laure) is with her husband Henri Savin (Yves Montand), who owns a transport company. Dominique follows Julie and jumps of a cliff, in a way that Julie could be blamed, especially when they find a ransom note. But Savin thinks about a way out.You cannot discuss this film without talking about its ending. This film is ALL about its ending. All the reviews are about it. It's the type of ending that evokes discussions. The kind of plot in which you have to accept A LOT of unlikely events as a viewer. I liked it anyway, as the setting is quite wonderful and it feels almost like a film in itself.There are other interesting things though. There's a great deal of attention for the lighting in this film, which is nice. Also, as many others have mentioned, the part of Marie Dubois is terrific. She is so important for the film, that when she is gone from the story, the film collapses a bit. Director Alain Corneau took a chance with his own screenplay. Because what follows is a long and dragging part in the middle. They could of course have chosen to keep her for the whole film, to continue the suspense, but in that way her role wouldn't feel as powerful as it does now, and the story would be more about exploiting the madness until the end, probably more like something like Cape Fear, which is also nice, but the story works better now this way, I think. I rate it 6/10.

I'll admit that the movie does tend to come apart in its concluding Canadian sequences, but they are so extravagantly handled and come to such a unique finish, this is only a minor flaw in this very superior suspense outing. Mind you, the plot does have some holes, but the pace is so fast and the atmosphere so intense, few will notice. I'll also admit that – with the notable exception of the cliff-top scenes as well as most of the other Dubois footage – the film is not as noirish in its atmosphere as it might be. For some reason, possibly to contrast with Montand's heavily dramatic hero, Balmer's police detective is presented in rather a light manner (no shadows in his scenes) and is likewise enacted in a far less dramatic style (almost flippant, in fact). Although outclassed by the venomously neurotic Dubois, Canadian actress Carole Laure is perfectly cast as the nice girl, the innocent in Montand's heavily dramatic life.Some critics would argue that the hero is too inventive for his own good and far too imaginative to sustain the reality of the plot. Nonetheless, thanks to Corneau's excitingly incisive direction, and his suspenseful script (co-written with Daniel Boulanger), plus a great deal of money upfront, "La Menace" fully lives up its title.In short, a superbly gripping thriller from first until almost last. Superbly photographed too – and on some hair-raising locations!

They do not love, that do not show their love.--SHAKESPEARE.Henri S.,a middle-aged man who works in the transport trucks business,is ready to switch from one mistress to another:from a richer one,Dominique (who is also his boss),to a younger,poorer one,Julie Manet (played by Carole Laure ,a Canadian starlet).Dominique doesn't seem ready to accept Henri's leave,on the contrary.She tracks "Julie" and meets her at the "Citadel",somewhere outside the town.The two women fight,Dominique knocks Julie,asks her to leave Henri,offers her money.Julie manages to run off.Dominique kills herself.Dominique's body is found.A cop inquires into her death,and looks inquiringly at Julie,he believes she settled Dominique's hash.Some marks,some witnesses,some paint scratched lead to Julie.Henri inherits ,by Dominique's will,a large sum of her money.He and Julie are both taken to task.They did not kill Dominique,are not responsible for her death;non the less,some things indicate them.On that score,the police suspects Julie.Henri decides to solve this on his own;his innermost thoughts are hidden.He seems to hold off,while he deepens in himself and works up a carefully conceived plan. Henri seems to accuse Julie and to leave her to her own devices;in fact,he gives her a leg up,and paves the way for them getting through.(" No cord or cable can draw so forcibly, or bind so fast, as love can do with only a single thread."--BURTON.)He outwits the cops,and moves heaven and earth to tip the scale.His plan has two steps:first,he does everything to incriminate "Julie Manet",so that he may gain some time,then he plants evidences against himself and drives the policemen to suspect him,so that "Julie Manet" may be released Scot-free,while he leaves France,going the whole hog.He pushes this plan through.In Canada,he works as a trucker.Julie,still in France,gives birth to Henri's child.Henri S. will drink his cup to the lees.The movie gets increasingly good.La Menace's last third (after "Henri" leaves France) is very suspenseful,igneous,uncompromising and intense,it looks like an homage to Clouzot.The climax is violent,it has suspense,bitterness,and strength.Montand is ripping,does himself justice as the gnarled,ungentle Henri and acts keenly.If you are a serious Alain Corneau fan,don't miss this one.

Corneau's career is a bit of a puzzle. He started with thrillers and is now making sombre mood pieces like Nocturne indien and Tous les matins du monde that feature career making performances (see Anne Brochet in the latter). La menace starts off as a tight thriller with a harried Yves Montand trying to balance wife and mistress, loses some momentum in the middle as fumble-foot detective Balmer sniffs around the principals, then picks up for a slam-bang finish in the twisting mountain roads of southern British Columbia.Montand and Carole Laure, the Canadian singer-actress, supply the tension after the sudden death of Marie Dubois (who is the best performer in the picture). Although it's not as good as the classic Série noire with Dewaere, this is a watchable film.