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Diabolically Yours (1967) Plot Summary & Timeline

Diabolically Yours (1967) movie poster

Diabolically Yours is a 1967 thriller and crime film directed by Julien Duvivier, running 1 hour 33 minutes. This page retells the whole story in 357 words (about 2 minutes to read) and covers 13 key events in order, 9 characters, where and when it is set and 3 themes. Looking for the cast, ratings and where to stream it? See the movie page for Diabolically Yours.

to read the plot summary
2 min
key events in the timeline
13
characters profiled
9
themes explained
3
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Diabolically Yours (1967) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 33m
Director
Julien Duvivier
Genres
Thriller, Crime
Original language
French
Studio
Comacico
No spoilers

What Is Diabolically Yours About?

The premise of Diabolically Yours in 268 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.

In the hush of a secluded estate, a man awakens from a three‑week coma to a reality that feels both familiar and foreign. He is told he survived a devastating car crash and is now known as Georges Campo, a prosperous figure whose past he cannot recall. A striking woman, presenting herself as his wife, leads him through the mansion’s imposing stone walls, while a poised physician, Frédéric Launay, offers assurances of medical care and friendship. A half‑Chinese butler named Kim attends to the household, his quiet demeanor adding another layer to the enigmatic setting.

The atmosphere of the estate is steeped in a quiet, almost oppressive elegance, where shadows linger in long corridors and the night is punctuated by unsettling whispers and fragmented dreams. Georges finds himself haunted by disjointed memories—a soldier’s fury in Algeria, the echo of distant voices—that clash with the polished facade of his supposed life. The mansion, isolated and lacking ordinary comforts such as a telephone, becomes a labyrinth of questions, each room amplifying the sense that something essential is being concealed.

As he struggles to piece together the fragments of his mind, Georges must grapple with doubts about his own identity, the authenticity of his marriage, and the very nature of the world that has been presented to him. The tension between trust and suspicion fuels a psychological tug‑of‑war, set against a backdrop of elegant decay and muted menace. In this tightly wound, suspense‑laden tableau, the viewer is invited to share his uneasy curiosity, wondering whether the life he has been handed is a construct, a refuge, or something far more unsettling.

Full plot

What Happens in Diabolically Yours?

The complete story of Diabolically Yours, from the first scene to the last, in 357 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.

Spoilers ahead

After waking from a three-week coma in a private clinic, a man with amnesia is told that he survived a car crash and that his name is Georges Campo, a name he does not recognize. A beautiful woman he does not know, who says she is his wife Christiane, takes him to recuperate in a mansion with high stone walls. With her is a doctor, Frédéric Launay, who says he is an old friend from their days in business together in Hong Kong. At the mansion they are greeted by the half-Chinese butler, Kim, who is offhand with him but has a suspiciously close relationship with Christiane. He is told that he must rest and take copious medication, while Christiane adds that there is no hope of any marital relations until he is fully well.

Voices start troubling him at night and he suffers nightmares, in one of which he is a coarse soldier called Pierre Lagrange fighting in Algeria. He discovers that he cannot get out of the grounds, that there is no telephone, and that he is a prisoner. He suspects attempts on his life: an unsecured trap door opens under him, a large dog attacks him, and a chandelier falls on him at dinner.

He realises he cannot be Georges Campo, because only Christiane and Frédéric claim he is, and that Campo must therefore be dead. While Frédéric is away one night, he forces himself on the not wholly unwilling Christiane and at breakfast tells Frédéric. Enraged at her treachery, he starts beating her, upon which the jealous Kim knifes him. She responds by shooting Kim and then confesses the whole plot. She and Frédéric had killed her husband Georges secretly but then needed a public death so they could marry and take over the Hong Kong business. They got the ex-soldier Pierre Lagrange drunk and crashed the car, but he survived. Then they had further attempts at killing him, which failed. Christiane offers to be a wife and business partner to him if he will carry on as Georges Campo. The police, when called to investigate the two deaths, do not believe him.

Timeline

Diabolically Yours Timeline: Every Key Event in Order

13 key events in the order they happen, from “Awakening with amnesia and the claim of Georges Campo” to “Police doubt and denial of the tale”. 13 events name a place, across 8 locations.

  1. 1

    Awakening with amnesia and the claim of Georges Campo

    He wakes from a three-week coma in a private clinic and cannot remember his identity. A beautiful woman who introduces herself as his wife Christiane informs him that he survived a car crash and that his name is Georges Campo, a person he does not recognize. A doctor, Frédéric Launay, is present and hints they were once close in business in Hong Kong.

    When:Immediately after waking Where:Private clinic

  2. 2

    Move to the mansion for recuperation

    Christiane takes him to recuperate in a mansion within walled grounds. She implies there is no future for marital relations until he is fully well and relies on routine medication to aid his recovery. The woman presents herself as his wife and orchestrates his new life.

    When:Shortly after waking Where:Mansion with walled grounds

  3. 3

    Introduction to Kim the butler and unease

    At the mansion they meet Kim, a half-Chinese butler who is ostentately distant toward him. He senses an odd closeness between Christiane and Kim and becomes suspicious. Kim's attitude foreshadows darker dynamics in the house.

    When:Early recuperation period Where:Mansion

  4. 4

    Lockdown and isolation

    He discovers he cannot leave the grounds; there is no telephone to call for help, effectively making him a prisoner. The mansion functions as a sealed world designed to control his reality. The sense of entrapment grows as he questions his true identity.

    When:Early nights Where:Mansion grounds

  5. 5

    Nightmares and haunted memories

    Voices trouble him at night and he experiences nightmares, including a memory of a coarse soldier named Pierre Lagrange fighting in Algeria. These visions blur memory and reality, intensifying his confusion about who he is. The dreams hint at a violent past linked to his supposed identity.

    When:Nighttime Where:Mansion

  6. 6

    First life-threatening trap

    During one troubling night a trap door opens beneath him, attempting to dispatch him. He survives another dangerous episode and remains imprisoned within the mansion. The incident confirms someone is trying to kill him, reinforcing his suspicion that his identity is a lie.

    When:Night Where:Mansion interior

  7. 7

    A daring canine attack

    A large dog roams the grounds and launches a vicious attack on him, heightening the sense of danger. The incident underscores that the mansion is not a safe haven but a battlefield for unseen plots. He grows more convinced that his past is being manipulated.

    When:Night Where:Mansion grounds

  8. 8

    A deadly chandelier near-dinner incident

    During a dinner, a chandelier falls, one of several attempts on his life. The close calls reveal a deliberate design to eliminate him. The events escalate the tension around his supposed past and the conspirators' willingness to kill.

    When:Dinner time Where:Mansion dining room

  9. 9

    Realization: Georges Campo is dead

    He realizes he cannot be Georges Campo because only Christiane and Frédéric claim that identity. He concludes that Campo must be dead and that the couple has orchestrated a past to seize his business. The truth begins to surface as he pieces together the plot.

    When:Following the life-threatening events Where:Mansion

  10. 10

    Confrontation and assault on Christiane

    While Frédéric is away one night, he forces himself on the not wholly unwilling Christiane. Later, at breakfast, he tells Frédéric about the assault, exposing the rift and betrayals within the couple. The act is part of a larger plan to maintain appearances and control.

    When:Night (assault) and following breakfast Where:Mansion

Show the other 3 events of Diabolically Yours
  1. 11

    Kim's attack and Christiane's confession

    Enraged by her treachery, he starts beating Christiane; Kim knifes him. Christiane then shoots Kim and confesses the entire plot to him. The confession reveals the scheme to murder her husband Georges and to assume his Hong Kong business, using staged deaths to marry and rule.

    When:Following the breakfast confrontation Where:Mansion

  2. 12

    The past revealed: Georges Campo murders and the staged crash

    Christiane and Frédéric reveal they killed Georges Campo in secret and needed a public death to marry and take over the Hong Kong business. They had lured Pierre Lagrange, an ex-soldier, and got him drunk to crash the car, but he survived. They admit there were further attempts to kill the man afterward, all designed to cement their alliance.

    When:In the past Where:Hong Kong business context

  3. 13

    Police doubt and denial of the tale

    When the police are called to investigate the two deaths, they do not believe his story and doubt his claims to be Georges Campo. The lack of corroborating witnesses leaves him trapped by the lie even as the truth comes to light. The authorities' disbelief reinforces the couple's manipulation of events.

    When:After confession Where:Police investigation

Characters

Who Are the Main Characters in Diabolically Yours?

9 characters, among them Pierre Lagrange / Georges Campo, Christiane and Frédéric Launay: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.

  • Alain Delon as Pierre Lagrange / Georges Campo in Diabolically Yours

    Pierre Lagrange / Georges Campo

    Played by Alain Delon

    An amnesiac man who wakes from a coma and is told he is Georges Campo, a name he does not recognize. He suspects a conspiracy to control him and fights to uncover his true identity amid a labyrinth of lies. His flashbacks to Algeria hint at a past that others want to erase or reinterpret.

    • 🧠 Amnesia
    • 🕵️ Dual identity
  • C

    Christiane

    Played by Senta Berger

    A beautiful, calculating wife who accepts the role of Georges Campo while secretly colluding with Frédéric Launay. She orchestrates deception and violence to both secure her marriage and seize control of the business. Her charm masks a willingness to betray and manipulate.

    • 💍 Manipulation
    • 🕵️‍♀️ Deception
  • FL

    Frédéric Launay

    Played by Sergio Fantoni

    An old friend from their days in business in Hong Kong who is revealed to be orchestrating the plot alongside Christiane. He uses medical expertise and cold calculation to push the protagonist toward a false past. He embodies dangerous sophistication and opportunistic ruthlessness.

    • 💉 Doctor
    • 🧠 Manipulation
  • K

    Kiem

    Played by Peter Mosbacher

    The half-Chinese butler who appears courteous yet harbors a close, uneasy relationship with Christiane. He polishes the mansion's routine while quietly underscoring the atmosphere of surveillance and threat. His role suggests a network of loyalty and possible complicity.

    • 🗝️ Servant
    • 🕵️ Suspicion
  • D

    Decorator

    Played by Claude Piéplu

    A house decorator employed at the mansion who contributes to the setting's refined yet slightly oppressive mood. He observes the tensions between the characters and provides background texture to the environment. His presence underscores the attention to appearance and control within the house.

    • 🏗️ Decorator
    • 🏠 Interiors
  • MG

    Marcel Gassouk

    Played by Marcel Gassouk

    A member of the mansion's staff whose exact role isn’t specified in the summary, but his involvement hints at a broader network of observers and influences within the estate. He contributes to the atmosphere of intrigue from the margins.

    • 🧰 Staff
    • 🕵️ Suspicion
  • B

    Brigadier

    Played by Georges Montant

    A police figure who arrives to investigate the deaths but remains skeptical of the protagonist’s claims. He embodies official scrutiny and challenges the conspirators’ narrative as the investigation unfolds.

    • 🕵️‍♂️ Police
    • 🧭 Skepticism
  • N

    Nurse

    Played by Renate Birgo

    A nurse at the private clinic whose presence adds a clinical, procedural layer to the recovery drama. She may serve as a witness to the memory conflicts and the doctors’ machinations.

    • 👩‍⚕️ Medical
    • 🗂️ Evidence
  • B

    Bartender

    Played by Albert Domergue

    A bartender in the mansion’s social spaces who may overhear conversations and inadvertently harbor secrets. He functions as a practical observer within the household dynamics.

    • 🍹 Service
    • 🗣️ Conversations
Setting

Where and When Is Diabolically Yours Set?

Diabolically Yours is set in Mansion with walled grounds and Private clinic. Here is why the place matters to the story.

When

The events unfold in a modern, contemporary setting focused on medical recovery and psychological suspense rather than historical events. The timeline centers on a tense period during which memories surface and lies are exposed. The atmosphere emphasizes present-day tensions rather than a specific era.

Where

Mansion with walled grounds, Private clinic

Set within a secluded mansion surrounded by high walls, the protagonist recuperates in a private clinic housed on the grounds. The estate feels luxurious yet claustrophobic, with restricted access and an air of menace that keeps him isolated. Hidden passages and a suspicious staff contribute to the sense that the house itself is a trap.

  • 🏰 Secluded estate
  • 🏥 Private clinic
Themes

What Are the Themes of Diabolically Yours?

3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Identity, Deception and Danger.

  1. 01

    Identity

    An amnesiac protagonist struggles to determine who he really is as others attempt to pin him to a false past. He confronts memory gaps and manufactured identities that others use to control him. The theme probes how memory shapes selfhood and how truth can be concealed behind convenient narratives.

  2. 02

    Deception

    A couple engineers a murder and a staged death to replace a husband and seize control of a business. The man is pressured to play a role he does not recognize, while the true story remains hidden behind lies. The plot explores manipulation, trust, and the cost of deceit.

  3. 03

    Danger

    The mansion environment is rife with peril: a trap door, a guard dog attack, and a chandelier that could end a life at any moment. Peril comes from both external conspirators and internal motives as power is pursued through violence. Tension escalates as attempts on the protagonist’s life intensify.

Tone & mood

What Kind of Film Is Diabolically Yours?

Tense in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.

Tone
Tense
Pacing
Steady
Story
Moderate
Intensity
High
Ending
Bleak

A tense and paranoid psychological thriller that traps the viewer in a disorienting world of doubt and deception, where the protagonist's desperate search for truth is met with escalating danger and a bleak conclusion.

  • paranoid
  • claustrophobic
  • anxious
  • suspenseful
  • unsettling
  • nightmarish
  • amnesia
  • psychological manipulation
  • deception
  • greed

Content notes: murder, psychological manipulation, attempted murder, knife violence.

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FAQ

Diabolically Yours Plot Questions

5 quick answers about Diabolically Yours, taken from the plot summary, character guide and setting on this page and the film’s credits.

What is Diabolically Yours about?

In the hush of a secluded estate, a man awakens from a three‑week coma to a reality that feels both familiar and foreign. He is told he survived a devastating car crash and is now known as Georges Campo, a prosperous figure whose past he cannot recall.

Read the full plot summary

When and where does Diabolically Yours take place?

Diabolically Yours is set in Mansion with walled grounds and Private clinic. The events unfold in a modern, contemporary setting focused on medical recovery and psychological suspense rather than historical events.

The setting explained

Who are the main characters in Diabolically Yours?

The story follows Pierre Lagrange / Georges Campo (played by Alain Delon), Christiane (played by Senta Berger), Frédéric Launay (played by Sergio Fantoni) and Kiem (played by Peter Mosbacher); the character guide covers 9 characters in all.

All the characters

What are the main themes of Diabolically Yours?

The summary picks out 3 themes: Identity, Deception and Danger.

The themes explained

Who directed Diabolically Yours?

Diabolically Yours (1967) was directed by Julien Duvivier and runs 1 hour 33 minutes.

Julien Duvivier’s films

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