The Ninth Gate (1999)
A rare book buyer is hired to authentic copies of a Satanic text.
Genre
Characters/Groups
Baroness Kessler - Barbara Jefford
Pablo and Pedro Ceniza - Jose Lopez Rodero
Liana's Bodyguard - Tony Amoni
Daughter-In-Law - Rebecca Pauly
Concierge - Catherine Benguigui
Desk Clerk - Dominique Pozzetto
Hotel Porter - Lino Ribeiro de Sousa
1st & 2nd Workmen - Jose Lopez Rodero
Cafe Owners - Bernard Richier and Marinette Richier
Character thumbnails with links to profiles
Detailed Synopsis
Andrew Telfer is writing his suicide note in his library. He finishes writing and puts a noose around his neck and hangs himself. In New York City, Dean Corso is looking over the collection of Old Man (The Ninth Gate)|Old Man. He tells Old Man's Son and Daughter-In-Law that Old Man's collection is worth about $600,000. He tells them it might take a month to sell the entire collection and when he notices their reaction to how long it could take, offers to buy Old Man's four volume Ibarra edition of Don Quixote for $4000 to $4200, causing the Old Man, who is a stroke victim and unable to speak to clench his fist. As Dean is leaving he runs into Witkin as he is leaving the elevator and he brags about his buy of the Don Quixote set. He goes to Bernie's Rare Books and they make a deal to sell the Don Quixote set to a Swiss client with Bernie getting ten percent of the sale. Dean goes to the Balkan Press building to hear a lecture by Boris Balkan on Demons and Medieval Litterature. He sees The Girl staring at him and then during the lecture falls asleep. After the lecture, Balkan wakes him up and then brings him into his office. Within his office is a photo of Château de Puivert. He shows Dean his collection of books, all of which revolve around the Devil. He then shows him the book, The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows from 1666 by Aristide Torchia, who was burned to death during the Inquisition along with his works. Dean mentions how three copies of his book survive owned by Baroness Kessler, Victor Fargas and Andrew Telfer. Balkan tells Dean that he wants him to go to Europe to examine the other copies of the Nine Gates to figure out which one is the authentic copy. Balkan then gives Dean a large check to use on his travels. Dean goes to visit Liana Telfer and asks her what she knows about The Nine Gates. She tells him she didn't know her husband sold the book and asks who the buyer was. She tells him, Andrew bought the book in Toledo, Spain. Liana shows him Andrew's library and Dean asks her if Andrew ever used the book to try and speak with the Devil. As Dean is leaving Telfer's residence, he sees Liana's Bodyguard staring at him. Dean goes to the library to research The Ninth Gate and sees The Girl watching him. He returns to his apartment and finds the door ajar and the inside in disarray. Dean goes to Bernie's book store and leaves him The Ninth Gate to watch over. As he is packing for his trip to Europe, Dean's doorbell rings. He lets Liana into his apartment and she makes him an offer to get The Ninth Gate back from Balkan. As he brings her a drink she starts to kiss him and they have sex. After sex Liana asks where the book is and when Dean says he doesn't have it she attacks him and smashes a bottle over his head. Dean calls Bernie but gets no answer, he then goes to his store and finds Bernie dead hanging upside down from one leg in the same manner as one of The Ninth Gate's engravings. He recovers The Ninth Gate hidden behind a picture and then goes to the airport after calling Balkan and trying to quit after telling him Bernie had been killed while holding The Ninth Gate for him.