The Ninth Gate (1999)
The neo-noir horror thriller film, The Ninth Gate (1999), was directed, produced, and co-written by Roman Polanski. The main character, Dean Corso, is a rare book dealer from New York City who is hired by Boris Balkan, a wealthy collector. Balkan has obtained a copy of The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows, a book believed to have been written by 17th-century author Aristide Torchia in collaboration with the Devil. Only three copies are said to have survived when Torchia and his works were burned for heresy. In order to determine the authenticity of one of these copies, Balkan wants Corso to inspect the other two. While on his journey, Corso encounters a mysterious woman known as ‘The Girl’, who appears to be following him.
During his investigation, Corso speaks with Liana Telfer, the widow of Andrew Telfer who had previously sold Balkan’s book The Nine Gates before his suicide. She pursues him romantically, hoping he will sell her the book. When he declines and they have a sexual encounter, she becomes violent and knocks him out. The next day, Corso discovers that the bookseller he had left the book with has died by hanging himself in a manner reminiscent of an engraving in The Nine Gates. Corso retrieves the book and travels to Toledo, Spain to speak with the Ceniza Brothers, previous owners of Balkan’s copy. They reveal that only six engravings are signed by ‘A.T.’ while the remaining three bear the signature of ‘L.C.F.’, likely referring to Lucifer.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Johnny DeppDean Corso  Lena OlinLiana Telfer  Frank LangellaBoris Balkan  Emmanuelle SeignerThe Girl  James RussoBernie |
The neo-noir horror thriller film, The Ninth Gate (1999), was directed, produced, and co-written by Roman Polanski. The main character, Dean Corso, is a rare book dealer from New York City who is hired by Boris Balkan, a wealthy collector. Balkan has obtained a copy of The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows, a book believed to have been written by 17th-century author Aristide Torchia in collaboration with the Devil. Only three copies are said to have survived when Torchia and his works were burned for heresy. In order to determine the authenticity of one of these copies, Balkan wants Corso to inspect the other two. While on his journey, Corso encounters a mysterious woman known as ‘The Girl’, who appears to be following him.
During his investigation, Corso speaks with Liana Telfer, the widow of Andrew Telfer who had previously sold Balkan’s book The Nine Gates before his suicide. She pursues him romantically, hoping he will sell her the book. When he declines and they have a sexual encounter, she becomes violent and knocks him out. The next day, Corso discovers that the bookseller he had left the book with has died by hanging himself in a manner reminiscent of an engraving in The Nine Gates. Corso retrieves the book and travels to Toledo, Spain to speak with the Ceniza Brothers, previous owners of Balkan’s copy. They reveal that only six engravings are signed by ‘A.T.’ while the remaining three bear the signature of ‘L.C.F.’, likely referring to Lucifer.
