La mariee etait en noir (1968) But the movie is not

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I've just finished reading the excellent Nevins bio of Woolrich, where a chapter is dedicated to a review of the movies based on his novels and stories (two others deal with the radio and TV productions). There is a lot of enthusiasm for this movie even compared to the novel but I cannot share in that feeling. Yes, the movie makes more sense with the accidental (here) killing of the bridegroom and the murder of the last (and real) culprit (though as absurd as anything in Woolrich, whom the french know only under his nick of William Irish). But that's all. The photography is as remote from noir or neo-noir as can be, all bathed in sunny weather, with no contrast whatever. But the main fault lies in the casting of the lead. Yes, Jeanne Moreau is not my (or anybody's, I hope) favorite french actress, looks-wise. But the basis of the novel was that the bride had to be young and attractive: she's not. She was pushing 40 at the time but the wrinkles (almost always quite visible), might make one assume she's well past that number. Still all the men seem to be attracted by her, even those who have no problem finding young and attractive girls (Denner, principally). It seems that she was picked up not by the production but by Truffaut because her character was similar to the one played in Jules et Jim.  Bah. 6-7/10