French Film Noir

  

 

American films could not be shown in Nazi occupied France during World War II, but after the war the flood gates were opened, and the French became enamored of the dark crime films of the 1940s that French film critics called film noir. Jean Pierre Melville, one of France’s greatest directors, even named himself after the famous American novelist. In Le Samourai, one of his best films, the main character, played by Alain Delon, resembles the young Clint Eastwood in looks and manner.

French filmmakers emulated these American dramas with their dark themes, dark lighting, both indoors and out, and underworld settings. They also humanized the criminals in the way American films like The Asphalt Jungle and Criss Cross did. The French criminals are ordinary men, not psychotic killers. They make their living through crime but usually hope to make enough to retire into normal life. Below are brief reviews of four French film noir.  Although not as well known as Rififi or Shoot the Piano Player, they are among my personal favorites.

 

Touchez Pas au Grisbi: Famed French film star Jean Gabin plays Max, a gentleman French gangster who hopes to retire after pulling off his last most successful heist. However, things go wrong in this French film noir set in the streets of post-war Paris when Max’s partner is kidnapped by rival gangsters and held for ransom.

Max is no psycho or evil villain. He dresses well, and he eats well. He dines at a bistro where the clientele are all gangsters, and the proprietress will not seat strangers or tourists.  We even see him getting ready for bed wearing pajamas and brushing his teeth. His girlfriend is no floozy but a sophisticated gentlewoman. He is also consistently loyal to his partner whose foolishness gets them into trouble  Jacques Becker directed this 1954 film that also featured a young Jeanne Moreau. 94m.    

 

Classe Tous Risques: French director Claude Sautet directed this 1960 crime drama that stars Lino Ventura, a former wrestler turned actor. After hiding out in Milan for over a decade, a fugitive gangland chief, returns to France with his wife and two young sons even though a death sentence hangs over his head. 

Ventura plays a tough guy, and he looks and acts the part, but his character is a devoted husband and family man despite his occupation. His relationship with his two young sons endears him to us. In France, he seeks a normal life, but his old associates have all become respectable businessmen and try to keep their distance. He is only assisted by the young Jean-Paul Belmondo in a role that makes us see why he became such an international star. 104m.

 

Le Doulos: Jean-Pierre Melville directed this 1963 French crime thriller that stars Jean-Paul Belmondo as an enigmatic gangster who may or may not be responsible for squealing on a fellow mobster played by Serge Reggiani. The word “Doulos” is gangland jargon for an informer. Once again, our hearts go out to the criminal who has finally found the right girl, as well as a home in the countryside where he can escape his past and live a normal life. Shot and edited with Melville’s trademark cool, and featuring masterfully stylized dialogue and performances, Le Doulos is a gripping drama right to its tragic ending. 108m.

                  

Le Samourai: Jean-Pierre Melville also directed this 1967 mixture of 1940s American gangster movies, 1960s French pop culture, and Japanese lone-warrior mythology. As noted above Alain Delon, who looks and acts a lot like the young Clint Eastwood, plays a contract killer with samurai instincts. After a successful hit, his employers attempt to kill him rather than pay him off. He becomes hunted by them and the police. 

For some reason we sympathize with Delon’s character as he goes about his business. It is a business, and he shows very little emotion. Like the warriors in the Japanese samurai epics he has his own code of behavior to which he faithfully adheres. A deadly killer, he is still kind and caring toward his girlfriend, a call girl played by his beautiful wife Nathalie Delon. Shot in subdued color, Melville’s masterpiece defines cool. 103m.

These films may be available on streaming services but I still prefer to use DVDs. There are no ads, and the discs often come with interesting commentaries. It is truly amazing that we can all have our own collection of great film art that we can watch over and over again at no cost.

Here is a link to reviews by the famed movie critics, Siskel and Ebert on the German classic "M", and Le Samourai, or watch the brief video below.

 

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