The Night Heaven Fell (French title: Les bijoutiers du clair de lune) is a 1958 French-Italian romantic crime melodrama film directed by Roger Vadim.
Ursula (Brigitte Bardot), who was educated in a convent, goes to live with her wealthy relatives, aunt Florentine (Alida Valli) and her husband Count Miguel de Ribera (José Nieto). She quickly learns there is bad blood between Ribera and a local, Lambert (Stephen Boyd), whose sister was driven to suicide by Ribera. Lambert is also having an affair with Florentine. Ursula becomes attracted to Lambert and runs away with him when he murders Ribera.
Tropes:
- All Girls Want Bad Boys: Ursula falls head over heels in love with Lambert after watching him beat up her uncle Ribera in revenge for his sister's suicide. After Lambert murders Ribera, she helps him escape and her feelings only intensify.
- Asshole Victim: Ribera ends up murdered, but it was in retaliation for what was implied to be the rape of a young woman, who went on to commit suicide, and he had similar intentions towards Ursula, his niece. The movie never paints him in a sympathetic light.
- Creepy Uncle: Ursula becomes an object of desire to her uncle Ribera. She definitely does not feel the same and is disgusted when he tries to take advantage of her.
- Dude, She's Like in a Coma: Ribera catches Ursula napping by the river and takes advantage of the situation by kissing her and attempting to force himself on her. Ursula notices quickly and is horrified by his actions.
- Love at First Sight: Ursula falls for Lambert within 5 minutes of knowing him. She says so to Florentine, who says she's being silly.
- Love Triangle: Both Ursula and Florentine want Lambert. He ultimately only sleeps with Florentine so he can have an alibi when he murders Ribera, which falls through when she betrays him. Then he falls for Ursula during their time on the lam.
- Outlaw Couple: After Lambert murders Ribera and Ursula runs away with him, both become wanted by the authorities and subject of a manhunt.
- Starts with a Suicide: The movie opens with Ursula arriving in the town where she will live with her aunt and uncle, and the first thing she sees is the crowd gathered around the corpse of a woman who drowned herself in a well. This is the motivation for Lambert's revenge against Ribera and thus instigator of the plot.
