Le Cercle Rouge
Seen it?1970 | 140 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (95% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved The Night of the Hunter or The Asphalt Jungle, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense, dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 20 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1970: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
When French criminal Corey gets released from prison, he resolves to never return. He is quickly pulled back into the underworld, however, after a chance encounter with escaped murderer Vogel. Along with former policeman and current alcoholic Jansen, they plot an intricate jewel heist. All the while, quirky Police Commissioner Mattei, who was the one to lose custody of Vogel, is determined to find him.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 92 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.6 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a modest audience
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 57K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville
- Alain DelonCorey
- BourvilCommissioner François Mattei
- Gian Maria VolontéVogel
- Yves MontandJansen
- Paul CrauchetThe Receiver
- Paul AmiotMarchand, Inspector General of Police
- Pierre ColletPrison Guard
- André EkyanRico
- Jean-Pierre PosierMattei's Assistant
- François PérierSanti