LES AVENTURIERS (THE LAST ADVENTURE)

France, 1967, 112 minutes, Colour.
Alain Delon, Lino Ventura, Joanna Shimkus, Serge Reggiani.
Directed by Robert Enrico.

The Last Adventure is an exciting film, two heroic daredevils, played by Alain Delon and Lino Ventura, go on a series of adventures from flying under the Arc d' Triomphe in Paris to the Congo. They are joined by Joanna Shimkus as the strong and glamorous heroine – who, unfortunately, dies and is buried at sea, causing further complications when the adventurers return to France.

This film was made in the spirit of the action adventures of the 1960s. Its director, Robert Enrico, had a long career in France but was not considered on the same level as the classic French directors, especially of the New Wave. His short film, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, is a masterpiece of film-making, adapted from the novella by Ambrose Bierce, which Rod Serling edited and made it part of his TV Twilight Zone. Another film which did get some international release was The Old Gun with Philippe Noiret.

This is the kind of material that was very popular with Jean- Paul Belmondo and Philippe de Broca.

1. The significance and tone of the title? The original was 'The Adventurers'. Which more appropriate?

2. The adventure style of the film, colour, Panavision, the stars, action and adventure? Good of its kind?

3. The French tone and atmosphere of the film, the French appeal, response of non-French audience?

4. The creation of a world of daring: men and women within this world, the modern aspects of adventure, especially machines? Adventure and daring, risks like flying under the Arc de Triomphe? Skill, planes and cars, bikes? Deep sea diving and rescuing treasure? The appeal of this kind of world, why?

5. Roland and Manu? French adventurers? Heroes? As portrayed by the stars? The strengths and weaknesses of their characters? The incidents illustrating their characters? Ordinary and extraordinary heroes? Audience ability to identify with them?

6. Leticia? feminine, type, artistic background, war background? Her art? Joining with Roland. at home with them? Her failure as an artist? her mediocrity? Her joining in the adventures, participation, relationship with the two men, love, the future? The pathos of her death and the solemn ritual of her burial?

7. Response to the trick about flying under the Arc de Triomphe and its being forbidden? The two men at their jobs, fighting the tricksters? Being persuaded to go to the Congo to recover the treasure? Preparations? The encounter with the pilot and his intruding on to the ship? The participation in adventure, pursuit, danger?

8. The importance of the flashback to the story of the plane, how well did the film sketch in the atmosphere of panic and terror in the Congo?

9. The underwater photography and the portrayal of the dive and the recovery of the treasure?

10. The attack, the death of Leticia? The change in plane?

11. Seeking Leticia’s home, the encounter with the boy and his showing them through the museum? Leticia’s foster parents and their attitude towards money? The men's change of attitude when they discovered the boy was Leticia’s cousin? Their providing the money for his future?

12. The picturing of the fort, a home of dreams, old-fashioned bastion of defence and daring? The irony of the attack in the fort? The fight, Manu’s death and its pathos? Roland left alone and the film withdrawing from the fort?

13. The pathos of the ending? A world of men and daring? Heroes and heroism? Purpose, futility?