Melville on Le cercle rouge
April 12, 2011
The following is excerpted from Melville on Melville, a book-length interview by Rui Nogueira . . . Read more »
Film Info
- France
- 1970
- 140 minutes
- Color
- 1.85:1
- French
- Spine #218
Alain Delon plays a master thief, fresh out of prison, who crosses paths with a notorious escapee (Gian Maria Volonté) and an alcoholic ex-cop (Yves Montand). The unlikely trio plot a heist, against impossible odds, until a relentless inspector and their own pasts seal their fates. Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le cercle rouge combines honorable antiheroes, coolly atmospheric cinematography, and breathtaking set pieces to create a masterpiece of crime cinema.
Cast
| Corey | Alain Delon |
| Captain Mattei | André Bourvil |
| Vogel | Gian Maria Volontè |
| Jansen | Yves Montand |
| The fence | Paul Crauchet |
| Chief of Internal Affairs | Paul Amiot |
| Prison guard | Pierre Collet |
| Rico | André Ekyan |
| Mattei's assistant | Jean-Pierre Posier |
| Santi | François Périer |
Credits
| Director | Jean-Pierre Melville |
| Producer | Robert Dorfmann |
| Sound | Jean Nény |
| Sets | Théo Meurisse |
| Cinematography | Henri Decaë |
| Music | Eric Demarsan |
| Editing | Marie-Sophie Dubus |
| Cameraman | Charles-Henri Montel |
| Costumes | Colette Baudot |
| Assistant director | Bernard Stora |
Disc Features
- Restored uncut version (with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition)
- 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
Current Posts
Features
Film Essays
Music for Melville: Composer Eric Demarsan
April 12, 2011
After Army of Shadows, Melville and I stayed in touch . . . One day, he announced: “I’m going . . . Read more »
Film Essays
Le Cercle Rouge: Great Blasphemies
By April 12, 2011
With his 1970 gangster epic Le cercle rouge, Jean-Pierre Melville finally landed his white . . . Read more »
Film Essays
Le cercle rouge: What Is the Red Circle?
By April 12, 2011
Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, drew a circle with a piece of red chalk and said: “When men, . . . Read more »
Features
Honor, Loyalty, and Friendship: John Woo on Le cercle rouge
By April 11, 2011
I believe in my world. I believe in brotherhood and everything that goes with it. Like honor, . . . Read more »
Film Essays
Music for Melville: Composer Eric Demarsan
April 12, 2011
After Army of Shadows, Melville and I stayed in touch . . . One day, he announced: “I’m going . . . Read more »
Film Essays
Le Cercle Rouge: Great Blasphemies
By April 12, 2011
With his 1970 gangster epic Le cercle rouge, Jean-Pierre Melville finally landed his white . . . Read more »
Film Essays
Le cercle rouge: What Is the Red Circle?
By April 12, 2011
Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, drew a circle with a piece of red chalk and said: “When men, . . . Read more »
Features
Melville on Le cercle rouge
April 12, 2011
The following is excerpted from Melville on Melville, a book-length interview by Rui Nogueira . . . Read more »
Film Essays
Music for Melville: Composer Eric Demarsan
April 12, 2011
After Army of Shadows, Melville and I stayed in touch . . . One day, he announced: “I’m going . . . Read more »
Film Essays
Le Cercle Rouge: Great Blasphemies
By April 12, 2011
With his 1970 gangster epic Le cercle rouge, Jean-Pierre Melville finally landed his white . . . Read more »
Film Essays
Le cercle rouge: What Is the Red Circle?
By April 12, 2011
Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, drew a circle with a piece of red chalk and said: “When men, . . . Read more »
Features
Honor, Loyalty, and Friendship: John Woo on Le cercle rouge
By April 11, 2011
I believe in my world. I believe in brotherhood and everything that goes with it. Like honor, . . . Read more »
