Le Doulos (1962)

A burglar betraying other criminals, prepares for a big heist with a trusted friend that might be as untrustworthy as he.

Director:

Jean-Pierre Melville

Writers:

Pierre Lesou (based on the novel by), Jean-Pierre Melville (adaptation)

Stars:

Jean-Paul Belmondo, Serge Reggiani, Jean Desailly

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Paul Belmondo	...	Silien
Serge Reggiani	...	Maurice Faugel
Jean Desailly	...	Le commissaire Clain
René Lefèvre	...	Gilbert Varnove (as René Lefevre)
Marcel Cuvelier	...	Un inspecteur
Philippe March	...	Jean (as Aimé De March)
Fabienne Dali	...	Fabienne
Monique Hennessy	...	Thérèse
Carl Studer	...	Kern
Christian Lude	...	Le docteur
Jacques De Leon	...	Armand
Jacques Léonard	...	Un inspecteur (as Jack Leonard)
Paulette Breil	...	Anita
Philippe Nahon	...	Remy
Charles Bayard	...	Le vieil homme

Storyline

Fresh out of prison and hell-bent on revenge, the recently paroled burglar, Maurice Faugel, finds himself, once more, on the run from the police after what should have been a quick and simple robbery. Now, under shady circumstances, everything points to Maurice's former friend and partner-in-crime, Silien: a cold-blooded, stony-faced gangster who has a reputation for being an unscrupulous informer. However, did Silien truly rat on Faugel? After all, in the heart of the ruthless Parisian underworld where one must choose between lying or dying, Silien seems willing to redeem his already tattered reputation, of course, in his own twisted way. In the end, is the so-called honour among thieves nothing but a mere myth?

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Plot Keywords:

running from police | black and white photography | smoking in bed | ex convict | female frontal nudity | 

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Taglines:

If you go for suspense and excitement see...

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Genres:

Crime | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Favorite storyline of Quentin Tarantino.

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Goofs

When the first murder takes place, a lamp on a long cord is knocked from a table. In the next shot, it's swinging in a different direction than it did when it fell, and much more vigorously than it would have been possible.

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Quotes

Silien: I don't give a damn. But I have the jewels and I need the money.

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Connections

Featured in My Journey Through French Cinema (2016)

User Reviews

Hats off to Fingerman

Jean-Pierre Melville's direction is a glorious tribute to classic American crime films of the 1940's and early 50's but has also a strong touch of originality. The story is set in the early 1960's Paris, but these criminals seem to live in a world of their own. It's a Hollywood film-noir underworld, where men constantly wear hats and trench coats like Humbrey Bogart, brandishing revolvers, drinking bourbon or scotch and driving big American cars, that look like tanks compared to small ordinary European vehicles around. The overall mood is dark and threatening and with the right kind of lightning and photography many scenes seem like epitomes of the best stuff the genre has ever offered.

Compared to its predecessors The Fingerman gives some new shine to the term 'hard boiled'. Women can still be fatal femmes in some sense, but mostly they get pushed around and are allowed attention only when men really need them. They are only there to pass information and sexual favors, nurse wounds and serve as minor helping hands. And when it comes to violence, they get the same rough treatment as any man.

Belmondo's role leans heavily to Dix Handley (Sterling Hayden) in John Huston's adaption of 'The Asphalt Jungle', only with a more visible dark side. His character is a strange and hypnotic mixture of honesty, treachery and bursts of sadistic violence. The way his tone of voice changes to more tender just before assault or murder is gripping. Serge Reggiani, although equally capable to violence, seems more mature and easier to identify with. Both men strongly overpower the happenings but not their own destinies. Fate still has its usual final word, as anyone familiar with characteristics of the genre well knows.

The plot with several flashbacks and changes of time and place may feel a little complex at the beginning, but opens up to be a very rewarding movie experience towards the end. This film easily equals and even surpasses many of its obvious paragons. Of the few Melville's films I have seen at this point this one became an instant favorite in a single viewing even beating the almighty Le Samurai. Very warmly recommended.

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

2 March 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

Doulos: The Finger Man

Filming Locations:

Studios Jenner, Rue Jenner, Paris 13, Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,362, 1 July 2007

Gross USA:

$82,772

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$91,007

Company Credits

Production Co:

Compagnia Cinematografica Champion, Rome Paris Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1