Cercle rouge (le)
Genre: crime thriller
With: Alain Delon (Corey), Bourvil
(Commissioner François Mattei), Gian Maria Volontè (Vogel), Yves Montand
(Jansen), Paul Crauchet (the middleman), Paul Amiot (the Inspector general), Pierre
Collet (the prison guard), André Ekyan (Rico), Jean-Pierre Posier (Mattei’s
assistant), François Périer (Santi)
Director: Jean-Pierre Melville
Screenplay: Jean-Pierre Melville
Release: 1970
Studio: Corona,
Comacico, Euro International Films
Rating: -
MBiS score: 8.6/10
In
memory of Alain Delon (1935-2024)
‟All men are guilty. They're born innocent, but it doesn't last.”
QuickView
Story-line: in Marseille, a dangerous criminal named Vogel
is transferred by train under the surveillance of Commissioner Mattei. Meanwhile,
a convict named Corey is offered an interesting ‟job” by a prison guard hours before his release.
Fate, it seems, has decided that Vogel and Corey will meet in the ‟red circle” and team up for an
audacious heist in Paris.
Pluses: a formidable cast generating lots of star power
(Alain Delon playing a cool villain, Gian Maria Volontè as his intense partner,
Yves Montand with his usual aura and a convincing Bourvil playing the self-assured
Mattei), impeccable direction by a master of suspense, a taut, strongly
atmospheric screenplay that manages to squeeze in a few funny moments amid the
drama, very clean cinematography, intelligent editing, quality production
values and a quiet, serviceable musical score.
Minuses: if
you avoid this movie because of its length (140 minutes), you will miss plenty…
gangland grudges, Vogel’s daring, a pressure-packed manhunt, threats uttered
with hushed voices and a breathtaking caper in a fortress jewellery store. LE
CERCLE ROUGE served as a sort of last hurrah for Bourvil, who died shortly
after its release (leaving us with one more movie) and Jean-Pierre Melville who
also contributed one more film before his death in 1973.
Comments: a cold and captivating thriller, LE CERCLE ROUGE proves once again that the name Melville is synonymous with first-rate moviemaking (and if it reminds you of Herman the novelist, you are right… Jean-Pierre Grumbach borrowed his surname out of sheer admiration). This engrossing film, much like Melville’s fascinating UN FLIC, will please all movie buffs.
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