Le Cercle Rouge (1970)
88%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: NA
Melville is at the top of his game, giving us his next-to-last entry into the world of deception, crime, and extreme suspense that made him a maestro of the French heist genre
If you’re looking for a heist movie that’s both stylish and philosophical, then The Red Circle is the perfect pick. Melville’s French take on the American gangster film is a classic cornerstone of the genre, and it’s easy to see why. The characters are fully developed in multiple shades of gray, the dialogue is crisp, and the methodical panache with which the criminals execute their plans is truly impressive. Plus, thanks to Melville’s spare approach, the film feels cool in both senses of the phrase. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride with these existential heroes.
Production Company(ies)
Red Box Films, Passion Pictures, Canfield Pictures,
Distributor
Rialto Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Bijouterie Mauboussin, 20 Place Vendôme, Paris 1, Paris, France
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
1970
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Mono
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Aspect ratio:1.66 : 1
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Runtime:2h 20m
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Language(s):French
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 2, 1970 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 28, 2003
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Alain Delon, Yves Montand, Bourvil, Gian Maria Volonte, Paul Crauchet, Paul Amiot, directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, written by Jean-Pierre Melville, crime, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Richard Brody, David Parkinson, Geoff Andrew, Nick Schager, Marta Barber, Robert Denerstein, Joe Nolan, Neely Swanson, Amber Wilkinson, Mike Massie, Anton Bitel, Stephan Boissonneault, MPAA rating, jewel heist, French underworld, police commissioner, escaped murderer, alcoholic, deception, extreme suspense, film noir, heist genre, French cinema, Raymond Chandler-style, trench-coats, cigarettes, existential heroes, slow-burn, tension, atmosphere, police procedural, friendship, unspoken, jewelry store scene
Worldwide gross: $471,766
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,045,176
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,231
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 441,131
US/Canada gross: $432,820
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,711,232
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,890
US/Canada opening weekend: $14,843
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $127,272
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,846
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Alain Delon – Corey
Bourvil – Le Commissaire Mattei
Gian Maria Volonté – Vogel
Paul Crauchet – Le Receleur
Paul Amiot – Le chef de la police
Director(s)
Jean-Pierre Melville
Writer(s)
Jean-Pierre Melville
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (65) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (62) | Rotten (3)
Grimly elegant…
June 21, 2021
Richard Brody
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
A classic cornerstone of the heist genre from a master of the nouvelle vague.
December 30, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
David Parkinson
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Melville’s special achievement was to relocate the American gangster film in France, and to incorporate his own steely poetic and philosophical obsessions.
February 9, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
The epitome of neo-noir stylishness.
October 31, 2005 | Rating: A-
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
TOP CRITIC
One well-choreographed, beautifully shot and definitely cool cops-and-robbers film.
September 5, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/4
Marta Barber
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
I can’t say that Cercle Rouge is an overlooked masterpiece, but it’s an amazing antidote to the current style of filmmaking in which silence and causal relationships are routinely disregarded.
August 15, 2003 | Rating: B+
Robert Denerstein
Denver Rocky Mountain News
TOP CRITIC
Melville’s influence can also be felt in works by John Woo, Michael Mann and Quentin Tarantino, and Le Cercle Rouge is a good primer on Melville’s stripped-down, gritty French take on Raymond Chandler-style trench-coats-and-cigarettes noir.
September 13, 2021
Joe Nolan
Nashville Scene
Melville’s plotting is outstanding; the characters are fully developed in multiple shades of gray; and the dialogue is crisp.
July 13, 2021
Neely Swanson
Easy Reader (California)
Thanks to Melville’s spare approach, the film feels cool in both senses of the phrase and there’s time to really focus on the look.
November 25, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Amber Wilkinson
Eye for Film
Opts for bleak realism in the outcome and unhurried pacing for the execution.
August 30, 2020 | Rating: 6/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Even if the characters are doomed to eventual failure, and their efforts are ultimately futile, the methodical panache with which they execute their plans, documented in minute detail by the film, elevates them to the status of existential heroes.
March 20, 2020
Anton Bitel
Projected Figures
It makes you side with the calm collected criminals. You truly believe they are all professionals and you want them to get away with the caper.
March 15, 2018 | Rating: 5/5
Stephan Boissonneault
Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)…
Plot
On the eve of his release after five years imprisoned, the thief Corey is contacted by one guard of the prison that offers him a jewelry heist. However Corey seeks out his former boss Rico and steals money from him. Rico sends two gangsters to hunt Corey down and retrieve the stolen amount. Meanwhile the criminal Vogel is transported by train by the Police Officer Mattei and succeeds to escape. Corey drives from Marseille to Paris and Vogel hides in the trunk of his car. Corey finds him but does not object to ride Vogel to Paris hidden in the trunk. When the gangsters sent by Rico cut in Corey’s car, Vogel saves him from the criminals, but Corey loses the money. Without money, Corey decides to heist the jewelry with Vogel and invites the former police detective Jansen to team-up with them. The trio executes a perfect heist but Rico is seeking revenge and Mattei is an unethical but efficient police officer capable to use any means to resolve the case.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about The Red Circle.
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