The Red Circle

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The Red Circle

1970,

2h 25m,

Crime/

Drama

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Watchlist

95%

66 Reviews

Tomatometer

92%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

66 Reviews

92%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

When French criminal Corey (Alain Delon) gets released from prison, he resolves to never return. He is quickly pulled back into the underworld, however, after a chance encounter with escaped murderer Vogel (Gian Maria Volonte). Along with former policeman and current alcoholic Jansen (Yves Montand), they plot an intricate jewel heist. All the while, quirky Police Commissioner Mattei (Bourvil), who was the one to lose custody of Vogel, is determined to find him.

Critics Consensus

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.

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

Oct 24, 2023

Once again, Melville and his cinematographer, Henri Decae, have achieved something that's very nice to look at and also tightly enough constructed to follow with interest throughout. There is, in particular, a superb jewel robbery sequence.

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

Jun 21, 2021

Grimly elegant...

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David Parkinson

Empire Magazine

Dec 30, 2006

4/5

A classic cornerstone of the heist genre from a master of the nouvelle vague.

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Arthur Thirkell

Daily Mirror (UK)

Oct 24, 2023

This entertaining French-made film has no frills, but plenty of thrills.

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George Melly

Observer (UK)

Oct 24, 2023

There's a lot of happenstance, but it's tautly directed, and the individual crooks and cops, while fond of Gallic platitudes, are well observed.

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Madeleine Harmsworth

Sunday Mirror (UK)

Oct 24, 2023

French thriller, full of holes, with a reasonably ingenious robbery sequence halfway through.

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Theodore L

Mar 5, 2018

Not my favorite Melville film, but it is interesting how every decision and path come full (red) circle

Poe S

Oct 9, 2017

The initial build up seemed inappropriate to have it culminate with a heist. Their professionalism seemed above that, but then again how would I know? It was a well told film that dispensed with the melodrama.

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Poe S

Aug 2, 2017

A generally exciting, bad-ass potboiler that blends the primarily blue-colored cinematography of Army of Shadows with the starkness of Le Samourai to create something arrestingly, intoxicatingly cool.

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Harry P

Jul 23, 2017

Brilliant French heist neo-noir movie. Of all nations tt seems the French understood, loved and appreciated the American noir style most. Impeccably shot and paced with mathematically constructed frames, cinematography and dialogue this movie resemble American detective movies with its suits, hats, pistols, cigarettes and strict glances. The jazzy soundtrack adds much to the noir feel of the movie, Yves Montand looks like a French incarnation of Humphrey Bogart. Alain Delon as a cool ex-convict plays his part very confidently. Not to mention the celebrated heist sequence which is very suspenseful and wonderfully orchestrated.

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Rey S

May 7, 2017

Fate will get you because no man is innocent. And though it's 1970, both the gangsters and the flics wear trench coats and fedoras. Cooooool.

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Theodore S

Apr 12, 2017

shot like a masterful western, silence is carried out through meaningful facial expressions and then broken by a single line of dialog. Not to mention the gun slinging and chase scenes.

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Jean-Pierre Melville

Director

Yves Montand

Jansen

Alain Delon

Corey

Bourvil

Le Commissaire Mattei

Gian Maria Volonté

Vogel

Paul Crauchet

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Synopsis

When French criminal Corey (Alain Delon) gets released from prison, he resolves to never return. He is quickly pulled back into the underworld, however, after a chance encounter with escaped murderer Vogel (Gian Maria Volonte). Along with former policeman and current alcoholic Jansen (Yves Montand), they plot an intricate jewel heist. All the while, quirky Police Commissioner Mattei (Bourvil), who was the one to lose custody of Vogel, is determined to find him.

Director: Jean-Pierre Melville
Screenwriter: Jean-Pierre Melville
Distributor: Rialto Pictures
Production Co: Selenia Cinematografica, Les Films Corona
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 2, 1970, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jan 10, 2003
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $58.1K
Runtime: 2h 25m
Sound Mix: Mono

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