Plot: What’s it about?
Tony Stephanois (Jean Servais) has just been released from prison, so he should feel good and look to start a fresh life for himself. But since his woman Mado (Marie Sabouret) has cheated on him and now, he thinks a return to the crime business might be just what he needs. His time in prison was not fun however, so he only agrees to be involved when his friends promise him that this heist is nothing short of the perfect crime. So he joins his friends Jo (Carl Mohner) and Mario (Robert Manuel) in the operation, which involves a lot of loot and could be the ambitious caper ever attempted. The task is centered on a large jewelry establishment, which means a ton of precious stones and a ton of potential cash. But they’ll need someone to crack the safe and in Cesar (Jules Dassin), they have the perfect man to do just that. On paper, this seems like a flawless plan and the job should go off without a hitch, but of course, things don’t always go according to plan.
I am so surprised that Rififi has not become a more well known picture, as it ranks as one of the best films I’ve ever seen. I think the heist/caper genre is a sparse one and in my opinion, is the finest example of how it should work. If you’ve seen a number of pictures of this kind, the influence is obvious and of course, the original stands up better than all the later efforts. Some elements may seem recycled, but remember that they were used here first, which makes a world of difference. The black & white cinematography is excellent and if you want tension, Rififi delivers that in very liberal doses. I have read complaints about this being too long, but I think the duration is filled with suspense and other elements, so the extended running time doesn’t bother me in the least. If you’re a fan of heist flicks or film noir, then I recommend Rififi, as it has the best of what you look for in the genres. As usual, Criterion has issued a superb disc and as such, this one comes very highly recommended from this reviewer.
At the helm of Rififi is Jules Dassin, who weaves the story and visuals together with excellent results. I love the location shots out on the streets, with such cavernous shadows and of course, real streets tend to add realism, which is always welcome. Although the film isn’t as dark as more recent film noirs, it does have a noir edge and that is enhanced by the crisp black & white photography, which is nothing short of amazing at times. Dassin’s darker works are his best in my opinion and of those, I think Rififi stands as my personal favorite. Although he was blacklisted in Hollywood in the midst of the red scare, Dassin went abroad and continued his success. Other films directed by Dassin include The Canterville Ghost, Topkapi, The Naked City, A Letter For Evie, Night and the City, and Brute Force. The cast here includes Jean Servais (Black Jesus, Dangerous Games), Robert Manuel (The Black Tulip, Ladies First), Marie Sabouret (The Toy Wife, The Three Musketeers), and Carl Mohner (The Neutralizer, Behind the Mask).
Video: How’s it look?
Those who have seen the movie before will be fairly stunned to see this new Blu-ray release. A new 2K digital restoration was done for the Blu-ray and it shows. The 1.37:1 AVC HD transfer looks stunning with deeper blacks, improved contrast and an overall “sheen” to the film that I’d never seen before. Granted it does pale by today’s films, but not by much. And compared to the standard DVD from years ago (and also included in the set), it’s a major step up to a movie that never really looked bad to begin with. This is yet another testament to Criterion and their continued commitment to excellent discs.
Audio: How’s it sound?
Although the track is mono, don’t let that fool you. This new track sounds just as good as any mono track I’ve heard. Gone is the bit of “hiss” that was present in other versions and the LPCM and Dolby Digital 1.0 tracks sound superb. Criterion has included the original French language track, which sounds terrific all around and should satisfy fans. In addition, this disc also includes optional English subtitles, as well as a bonus English language track.
Supplements: What are the extras?
While it’s nice to have a Blu-ray of Rififi, there aren’t any new features from the previously-released standard DVD. Having said that, here’s what to expect:
- Interview with director Jules Dassin – Dassin talks about the blacklist process, the making of Rififi, a baseball game between Fox & MGM, as well as some other interesting tidbits.
- Set design drawings by Alexandre Trauner – An interesting little feature that shows us some of the concepts used in the film.
- Production Stills – Essentially a photo gallery.
- A booklet featuring an essay by critic J. Hoberman – As is the case with all Criterion discs, we get an informative booklet featuring an essay on the film.
- Trailer
- DVD Copy
