ONCE A THIEF

US, 1965, 107 minutes, Black and white.
Alain Delon, Ann- Margret, Van Heflin, Jack Palance.
Directed by Ralph Nelson.

Once a Thief is a sombre thriller set in San Francisco of the mid-60s, up to date with the jargon of the time, police corruption, the growing spread of drugs.

Filmed effectively in black and white and in Panavision, the film captures a grim mood of the city. It focuses on a petty thief, played with his taciturn charm by Alain Delon, and his being pursued relentlessly by the policeman that he has shot and who has not forgiven him or found out for certain that he was guilty. Van Heflin plays this brooding policeman. Ann Margret has the opportunity for some acting and emoting as Delon's wife and a concerned mother. Jack Palance leers as usual as Delon's older brother.

The film shows the dilemmas of the ex-convict in getting jobs, his wanting to be the man of the house and earning the living, his angry reactions at his wife working in a sleazy restaurant. It also shows him in confrontation with the system and their lack of sympathy for individuals. He then responds to the possibility for a million-dollar heist, masterminded by his brother. He is arrested by Heflin, hounded but let go by the police chief (Jeff Corey). After the execution of the crime, his daughter is kidnapped and he goes to Heflin for help. There are complications and double crosses - until the final grim ending. There is an effective score by Lalo Schifrin. Direction is by Ralph Nelson, director of such tough films as Requiem for a Heavyweight, Soldier Blue, as well as films with the lighter touch like Lilies of the Field and Charlie.

1. Interesting thriller? Atmospheric thriller? Portrait of a crime? The characters of the criminals?

2. Black and white photography, San Francisco locations, atmosphere? Panavision? The jazz score?

3. The title - once a thief, always a thief? The character of Eddie, his fulfilling this saying? Doomed to fulfilment?

4. The opening crime and its brutality, the murder of the Chinese storekeeper, her husband's grief? Vido and his investigation, the parallels with Eddie, his relentlessly pursuing these? His own obsession - and his explanation about being shot, the pain in the gut, his recognising Eddie from his eyes, yet the uncertainty and the court not upholding this verdict? His wanting to pursue Eddie? His partner, the police chief and his hesitations?

5. Eddie, released from prison, on parole? His relationship with Christine and his daughter? The possibilities of a happy life - his work, getting some money, building a family? Conscious of Vido pursuing him? The arrival of Walter and his friends? The proposition for a new job - and his refusing? Christine satisfied? His being arrested by Vido, into jail, on the line-up - and the irony of his having to be released? His losing his job? Going for insurance, for payments - and its being held against him, that he walked off the job instead of being fired? His growing angers?

6. The decision to go in with Walter? Walter's blond assistant and his sinister attitude? The cousin (and Eddie fighting with him and breaking his teeth)? The planning of the crime, Eddie getting enthusiastic, studying the warehouse? His anger with Christine and her work, at night, having to do the housework? His going down to the restaurant and angrily taking her back? The execution of the crime? His getting away with the platinum? The news of the kidnap of his daughter?

7. At cross-purposes? His discovery of Walter's death? His assistant and the kidnapping of his daughter? The phone calls to his wife? The decision to go to Vido for help? The confrontation, the telling of the truth? Vido offering to support him? The ironies of the phone being engaged, Christine asking the police to come? The build-up to the shoot-out, his vengeance against the criminals? His daughter running towards him? His being shot? The pathos of the ending?

8. Christine, her love for Eddie, going to work, being humiliated? Her love for her daughter? Her not wanting him to join his brother? The crime, her rejection of him? The kidnapping of the daughter, spending the night at the pier? The engaged phone? Asking the police to come, his death? Her looking back at Vido?

9. Vido, the loner, living with his mother? The same Italian background? His determined pursuit, grim relentlessness? The effect on his partner? On the inspector? His being told to go easy? The picking up of Eddie, the interrogation, trying to persuade the witness to identify him? His following him everywhere, knowing about him? Eddie going to him, his decision to help him? Knowing the truth - and finding it meant nothing? The stake-out, his being injured, sad at Eddie's death?

10. Walter and his associates, sinister? The importance of brotherly love and his demands on Eddie? The execution of the crime? His being double crossed and murdered? The assistant and the cousin, their deaths?

11. A bleak and black film? The hopelessness of the characters, caught in situations and fate?