LE CERCLE ROUGE
Special Features: 4K Restoration
Impassive faces, snap-brim hats, dangling cigarettes, sunglasses after dark, raincoats without rain, nightclub floor shows — the milieu of Jean-Pierre Melville, prince of the French gangster picture, as four hommes durs cross paths for their appointment with destiny. Prisoner-in-transit Vogel (Gian Maria Volonté) crashes — literally — out of a train, to the dismay of guard Inspector Mattei (comedy legend André Bourvil); ex-cop Jansen (Yves Montand) shifts from DT-plagued drunk to dapper, rock-steady sharpshooter; and recently released criminal Corey (Alain Delon) reclaims his gun and money and shrugs off two murder attempts. All join forces for a meticulously orchestrated heist of a Place Vendôme bijouterie. The biggest hit of Melville’s career, LE CERCLE ROUGE was initially released in the U.S. in a dubbed version cut by 40 minutes, until the complete 140-minute version was finally released by Rialto Pictures in 2003. This 4K restoration from StudioCanal spotlights the noirishly-muted color cinematography by Melville/New Wave lenser Henri Decaë (ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS, THE 400 BLOWS, PURPLE NOON, LE SAMOURAÏ) like never before, with subtitles by veteran translator Lenny Borger. DIR/SCR Jean-Pierre Melville; PROD Robert Dorfmann. France/Italy, 1970, color, 140 min. In French with English subtitles. NOT RATED
In Memoriam: Alain Delon (1935–2024), Lenny Borger (1951–2024)
Restored in 4K by StudioCanal at Hiventy with the support of the CNC.
Run Time: 140 Minutes
Opening Date: Friday, March 28, 2025
Genre: Crime drama