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Crime cinema has never been so meticulously and coolly executed. Taciturn thief Alain Delon (intense and dapper in trenchcoat and fedora) and escaped prisoner Gian Maria Volonte cross paths as if by fate, bound by saving each other's life, and join with disgraced ex-cop Yves Montand for their next job: a daring jewel robbery. Le Cercle Rouge is the ultimate expression of the romantic doom that Jean-Pierre Melville established in his masterpieces Bob Le Flambeur and Le Samourai. The centerpiece heist, a wordless 20-minute sequence with masked men communicating in codified gestures, is a tour de force of cinematic efficiency that tops even Rififi in its celebration of criminal skill and nerve. Melville's cool detachment doesn't allow us to really warm up to these uncompromising pros, but his cinematic precision is spellbinding and his unforgiving world of loyalty, professionalism, sacrifice, and codes of honor is an irresistible underworld fantasy.
The Criterion DVD restores the film, which was originally cut by 40 minutes for its American release, to its full-length director's cut. Additionally, it features new interviews with Melville's assistant director Bernard Stora and friend and expert Rui Nogueira, rare archival interviews with the director and his cast, and a new introduction by filmmaker and Melville fan John Woo among its wealth of supplements. --Sean Axmaker
Product Description
Alain Delon (The Leopard, Le samouraï) plays a master thief, fresh out of prison, who crosses paths with a notorious escapee and an alcoholic ex-cop (The Wages of Fear’s Yves Montand). The unlikely trio plot a heist, against impossible odds, and then a relentless inspector and their own pasts seal their fates. Le cercle rouge, from Jean-Pierre Melville (Le samouraï, Army of Shadows), combines honorable antiheroes, coolly atmospheric cinematography, and breathtaking set pieces to create a masterpiece of crime cinema.
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES • Restored, complete, uncut version, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack • Excerpts from Cinéastes de notre temps: “Jean-Pierre Melville” • Video interviews with assistant director Bernard Stora and Rui Nogueria, the author of Melville on Melville • Thirty minutes of rare on-set and archival footage, featuring interviews with director Jean-Pierre Melville and stars Alain Delon, Yves Montand, and André Bourvil • Original theatrical trailer and 2003 Rialto Pictures rerelease trailer • PLUS: A booklet featuring essays by film critics Michael Sragow and Chris Fujiwara, excerpts from Melville on Melville, a reprinted interview with composer Eric Demarsan, and an appreciation from director John Woo
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By Martin
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
i love it , i love it, i love it, i love it, i love it, i love it, i love it.
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Format:DVD
"When men, even unknowingly, are to meet one day, whatever their diverging paths, they will inevitably come together in the red circle."
Its just a title relax/
Format:DVD
THIS, my friends, is what hooked me onto french cinema. Like the vast majority of the films from that era, the direction is gritty and uncouth. The "artsy" appeal of french new wave is what keeps me hooked. But enough with the genre itself! That fateful summer night in Boston, Alain Delon came ranked amongst my favourite actours. In a somewhat sardonic way, he's rather debonaire as Corey. Despite having to glue my eyes to the subtitles throughout the entire picture [high school french doesn't get you far], I appreciated every performance. Melville has done his share to become one of my favourite filmmakers, his style has become recognizable with each I watch. The tale is, although simple, one of my favourite in my film collection. And for such this is, I'm enthralled to the edge of my seat as each second ticks on.
And yes...this, as stated before, epitomizes cool. Scared of the "artsy" flicks? My own mother liked this film.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the finest achievemenst of Melville!
Tauting , provocative and sugestive thriller ; this monumental work still hasn't received the important place it deserves widely. Read more
Published on Jun 30 2004 by Hiram Gomez Pardo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pure Cinematic Bliss!!!
I saw this film last weekend as part of a local french film festival. I had heard great things of it and given my pention for noir I knew I would like it. Read more
Published on Mar 7 2004 by Brian Spies
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stylish, Jazzy, and Austere: Melville's Last Classic.
The premise is simple: a man named Corey (Alain Delon) is released from prison but is unable to avoid his randez-vous with destiny. Read more
Published on Dec 1 2003 by "barocco44"
4.0 out of 5 stars
BUDDHIST NOIR?
"When men, even unknowingly, are to meet one day, whatever their diverging paths, they will inevitably come together in the red circle. Read more
Published on Nov 21 2003 by Robin Simmons
5.0 out of 5 stars
Apotheosis of the great French existential crime pictures
Jean-Pierre Melville, in many ways, shares some of the brooding
and fatalistic tendencies of his colleagues Marcel Carne (Jour Se
Leve, 1939) and Henri-Georges Clouzot... Read more
and fatalistic tendencies of his colleagues Marcel Carne (Jour Se
Leve, 1939) and Henri-Georges Clouzot... Read more
Published on Nov 12 2003 by Nicholas Edwards
4.0 out of 5 stars
How the game is played
Melville created a cold-hearted masterpiece with the Red Circle. There is little sympathy felt for any of the characters. Read more
Published on Nov 11 2003 by Daniel C. Wilcock
5.0 out of 5 stars
Melville's cosmology
The cold, slow-paced and existential treatment of this crime story comes from a different world, Melville's world, where darkness is pure enlightment.
Published on Sep 23 2003 by ilyushin
5.0 out of 5 stars
riviting
Riviting movie I was first made aware by 1/2 pg reviews in the n y times around jan 03 during its re release.. Read more
Published on Sep 17 2003 by barry horwitz
4.0 out of 5 stars
the passengers
Melville's films are all noted for their lack of dialogue. In fact one of his early films was called Silence of the Sea. Read more
Published on Aug 18 2003 by Doug Anderson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Melville is the king of cool
Every review of Le Cercle Rouge uses the word cool because Melville's movies epitomize cool. This is a world of policeman and thieves, all dressed to the nines, all possessing... Read more
Published on Jun 23 2003 by Eugene Wei
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