Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, this film is similar to his previous film Le Samourai, in that there are good guys and bad, and there are the cops and robbers. The translation of the title meaning the Red Circle was based upon a Buddhist motto about those people who are destined to meet, eventually will.
In this film the types of scenes included are an escaping prisoner, murder scene, police man-hunt, mob battles and an armed robbery to steal diamonds.
The film starts off showing a German named train running through I would guess Paris. Though scene by scene the actors performances and directions really smartly executed and cool to watch.
Corey, who has just been released from prison on good behaviour notice from the police, is given a job to do by a Prison Guard.
Inspector Bourvil is escorting Vogel a thief whilst on the train at night, Vogel is hand cuffed, and finds a way of un-cuffing himself; he then kicks the train window, jumps out and is then later followed through a forest by the Inspector, who in turn tries to shoot Vogel with a small pistol. Then Bourvil misses and this enables Vogel to flee from the scene.
Having watched and enjoyed watching both this film as well as the Le Samourai, I noticed that in both films Alain Delone’s character roles are extremely identical, where he plays a cool guy, lacks emotions, says very little, and just does the contract job that is asked upon him.
Inspector Bourvil is characterised strangely by a nearly retired man, who I found most strange in this particular acting role, as if to say that had a policeman let a prisoner escape, the last thing his superiors would do would be to let him continue the man-hunt. Why did his superiors not give him the bullet from his work?
Having watched this carefully I did not notice, Vogel getting into Corey’s car trunk. They seemingly meet by surprise. Vogel armed with a gun, greets Corey with a pointing gun. Corey then shows Vogel, a piece of paper with the robbery job brief. All of a sudden Vogel is seemingly more settled by Corey’s presence and jumps back into the car boot.
Another observation I made was the few words spoken between each other. Then in no uncertain fashion, a car pulls up next to Corey’s car where they are effectively taken prisoner by another mob. Though whilst Vogel is in the car trunk gets out of the car boot, he hands Corey a gun, takes the two guns from the mob men and gets a handkerchief and exchanges each gun to make it look as if the mob men had shot each other.
A Gentleman’s club owner called Santi is questioned by Bourvil who refuses to act as the police informant. Later the owner says to Bourvil that “I’m no informer”. This film is smart in allowing such serious issues to be included in the story which results in a much more suspenseful story.
The ending provides another interesting twist to this film. Along with other Jean-Pierre Melville films, the film portrays the good and bad guy in the film as just that. The police informants are not amongst the group of heroes or the crooks. The consistency in the directors films are clear and straightforward to understand.
Overall there is so much drama and suspense though this does not compare to the actors themselves who I found to be more impressive than the story. I feel that the quality of the film is excellent and as such is recommended.
recommended: yes
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Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
A huge box-office success on it initial release in France, Melville's masterful take on ... more
the American crime thriller is a perfect synthesis of the Hollywood gangster film with his uniquely French style.Starring the glacial Alain Delon as a master thief,...
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