Melville on Le cercle rouge
October 27, 2003
The following is excerpted from Melville on Melville, a book-length interview by Rui Nogueira first published in 1971. How do you feel about your twelfth film, Le cercle rouge? Since there’s Read more »
- France
- 1970
- 140 minutes
- Color
- 1.85:1
- French
- Spine #218
SYNOPSIS: 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 & CreditsOpen
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
From the CurrentView the Current »
Film Essays
Music for Melville: Composer Eric Demarsan
October 27, 2003
After Army of Shadows, Melville and I stayed in touch . . . One day, he announced: “I’m going to make a new film. You’re not composing the score for it; I’ve contacted Michel Read more »
Le Cercle Rouge: Great Blasphemies
By October 27, 2003
With his 1970 gangster epic Le cercle rouge, Jean-Pierre Melville finally landed his white whale. The French maverick who changed his last name from Grumbach out of admiration for Herman Read more »
Honor, Loyalty, and Friendship: John Woo on Le cercle rouge
October 27, 2003
I believe in my world. I believe in brotherhood and everything that goes with it. Like honor, loyalty, and friendship. The reason why Le cercle rouge is a classic Read more »
Le cercle rouge: What Is the Red Circle?
By October 27, 2003
Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, drew a circle with a piece of red chalk and said: “When men, even unknowingly, are to meet one day, whatever may befall each, whatever their diverging Read more »
