By elevator to the scaffold

Special screenings of a classic of world cinema — The Elevator to the Scaffold pay tribute to the greatest jazz artist in history — Miles Davis on the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Louis Malle's Elevator to the Scaffold (1958) not only paved the way for the French New Wave, but also combined cinema with jazz in an unprecedented way. This stylish crime noir has gained immortality for many reasons, and one of them is undoubtedly the mesmerizing soundtrack by jazz genius Miles Davis himself, whose 100th birthday falls precisely on May 26, 2026.

The music in this film is not just a background, Davis's trumpet becomes almost the inner voice of the characters, emphasizing their loneliness and the increasing fatalism of their location. Its creation is also associated with one of the most beautiful legends in the history of music. Davis, while in Paris, prepared the setting in just one night. The recording session was based on improvisation itself — the band watched looped parts of the film and reacted live to what was happening on the screen. The lack of preparation gave rise to a raw, melancholic sound that today is shrouded in legend and has delighted music lovers for decades.

The music with Lift on the Scaffold has been recognized as one of the best soundtracks in history for years.