Un Flic (1972)

After a shaky first heist, a group of thieves plan an even more elaborate- and more risky- second heist.

Director:

Jean-Pierre Melville

Writer:

Jean-Pierre Melville

Stars:

Alain Delon, Richard Crenna, Catherine Deneuve

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alain Delon	...	Commissaire Edouard Coleman
Richard Crenna	...	Simon
Catherine Deneuve	...	Cathy
Riccardo Cucciolla	...	Paul Weber
Michael Conrad	...	Louis Costa
Paul Crauchet	...	Morand
Simone Valère	...	Paul's wife
André Pousse	...	Marc Albouis
Jean Desailly	...	Distinguished gentleman who was robbed a statue
Valérie Wilson	...	Gaby
Henri Marteau	...	Police officer instructor of shooting
Catherine Rethi
Louis Grandidier
Philippe Gasté	...	Un policier
Dominique Zentar

Storyline

Bank robbery in small town ends with one of the robbers being wounded. The loot from the robbery is just an asset for the even more spectacular heist. Simon, gang leader and Paris night club owner, must also deal with police comissaire Edouard Colemane, who happens to be his good friend.

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Plot Keywords:

police inspector | informer | helicopter | night train | paris france | 

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Genres:

Crime | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

25 October 1972 (France)

Also Known As:

Dirty Money

Filming Locations:

Splendid Hôtel, 54 Rue Fondary, Paris 15, Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,341, 21 April 2013, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$48,040, 18 August 2013

Company Credits

Production Co:

Euro International Film (EIA),Oceania Produzioni Internazionali Cinematografiche

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

While Alain Delon's character, Commissaire Coleman, examines a crime scene, we see a brief shot of a wall on which are inscribed several names including the one of his character in one of his previous collaborations with Jean-Pierre Melville: Jef Costello, the "hero" of Le Samouraï (1967).

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Goofs

A tag is visible on Coleman's black tie when he exits the private room at the club with Cathy and Simon. The tag is not there when he enters the room.

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Quotes

Commissaire Edouard Coleman: The only feelings mankind has ever inspired in policemen are those of indifference and derision.

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Connections

Referenced in Unmade Beds (1976)

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Soundtracks

L'ambiguïté et la Dérision
Music by Michel Colombier

User Reviews

Underrated Melville effort

Neglected Melville crime thriller isn't exactly good, but isn't bad either -- feels half-finished, more than anything. Crenna and Delon are friends; they're also on different sides of the law, with Delon a cop and Crenna secretly the head of a gang of thieves who specialize in risky heists. On the other hand, Delon is secretly carrying on with Catherine Denuve, Crenna's girlfriend. Plot too allusive for it's own good -- a bit more grounding of the characters are needed, since their motivations as it stands are opaque (why are Delon and Crenna friends? why is Delon carrying on with Deneuve? if Crenna knows, as he seems to, why is he allowing it? what does Denuve think of all this?). Low budget also hurts the movie -- the centerpiece of the film, an elaborate heist on board a moving train, looks phony and very cheap. (This is a rare movie that probably would benefit from a remake). On the other hand, Melville remains a master of gloomy atmosphere, the setpieces more or less work (the opening sequence, a bank robbery in a cold and rainy seaside town, is well done) and the actors all give it their best. Final shot of the movie is very well done.