THE BURGLARS
France, 1971, 109 minutes, Colour.
Jean Paul Belmondo, Omar Sharif, Dyan Cannon, Robert Hossein.
Directed by Henri Verneuil.
The Burglars is a glossy crime thriller of the early '70s, directed by Henri Verneuil, director of many international thrillers including Night Flight to Moscow and The Sicilian Clan. The setting is Athens which is filmed attractively in Panavision and colour. There is a great deal of stunt work, a car chase in the Bullitt style, and some stunt work by Jean Paul Belmondo.
The film relies on the athletic and energetic charm of Belmondo in comparison with the suave, sometimes sinister style, of Omar Sharif. There is and international cast led by Dyan Cannon. Perennial popular entertainment.
1. An entertaining crime thriller? The focus on the crime and the criminals? The police? International and colourful? Real, fantasy?
2. Panavision and colour photography of Athens, the car chases and special effects? Stunt work? Editing and pace? Ennio Morricone's atmospheric score?
3. The title, the focus on the gang, the focus on the corrupt policeman? Seeing the burglars at work? The policemen at work?
4. The focus on the group, their techniques, working together as a gang, scouting out the house to be robbed, the execution of the burglary, the interference by Inspector Zachariah? Azad and his skills, the safe, making the key? Confronting Azad about the broken down car? The stealing of the jewels? Trying to get rid of them? The wharf? The car chase? The confrontation with Zachariah? His violence with the gang? Cat-and-mouse between Azad and Zachariah? Azad getting the upper hand? Zachariah's death? Crime not paying?
5. Jean Paul Belmondo sympathetic as Azad, burglar, professional, charm? Smooth talking? With Zachariah, cat and mouse, each getting the upper hand? Athletic driving and escapes? The encounter with the girl at the bar? Going to the club, being photographed? The girl friend, the phone calls, the fight? His winning out over Zachariah?
6. Omar Sharif as Zachariah, police work, investigations of Azad, chasing him, the club, blackmail with the girl and the photos? Confrontation with members of the gang, confronting Azad, his death?
7. The members of the gang, their expertise, violence. deaths?
8. The girl, the bar, attracting Azad, the club, the photographs, the meeting between them, the truth?
9. The atmosphere of Athens, wealthy families and their jewels, robberies, the police. sexy nightclubs and the comments about sexual permissiveness, the world of investigations and crime? A colourful entertainment, in an amoral style?
