The Burglars
| Le Casse | |
|---|---|
Theatrical poster
|
|
| Directed by | Henri Verneuil |
| Produced by | Henri Verneuil |
| Written by |
Henri Verneuil |
| Based on | novel The Burglar by David Goodis |
| Starring |
Jean-Paul Belmondo Omar Sharif Robert Hossein Dyan Cannon |
| Music by | Ennio Morricone |
| Cinematography | Claude Renoir |
| Edited by | Pierre Gillette |
|
Production
company |
Columbia Films
Vides Cinematografica |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures (USA) |
|
Release date
|
27 October 1971 (France) 14 June 1972 (USA) |
|
Running time
|
120 minutes |
| Country | France / Italy |
| Language | French / English |
| Budget | 15 million frances |
| Box office | $33 million |
Henri Verneuil
Le Casse (US title: The Burglars) is a 1971 movie directed by French director Henri Verneuil, starring Jean-Paul Belmondo, Omar Sharif, Dyan Cannon and Robert Hossein. It is based on the 1953 novel by David Goodis and revolves around a team of four burglars chased by a corrupt cop in Athens. It's a remake of the 1957 film The Burglar with Jayne Mansfield.
The movie is known for its spectacular car chase and Belmondo's incredible fall from a construction truck down a steep, rocky hillside. The movie was shot twice, once in French and once in English, by the same cast.
In Athens, Azad (Jean-Paul Belmondo), Ralph (Robert Hossein) and 2 other accomplices, Renzi and Helen, rob a suitcase of emeralds from a rich Greek citizen, M.Tasco, when the latter is away on vacation.
The thieves break into the house, crack the safe, and make off with the jewels. A police detective, Abel Zacharia (Omar Sharif), spots the burglars’ car in front of the house. Azad chats with the detective and spins a cover story of being a salesman with engine trouble. Zacharia leaves and Azad thinks he has gotten away with it.
The thieves plan to leave the country immediately on a merchant ship. However when they arrive at the dock they discover the ship is undergoing repairs and will not be ready for five days. They stash the money, split up, and agree to wait out the delay.
Zacharia reappears, having decided to find and keep the emeralds himself. Azard falls in love with Lena.
Mr Tasco identifies the thieves and kills Renzi, framing Ralph.
Azad narrowly escapes the police with Lena, but he soon discovers that she is in cahoots with Zacharia.
Ralph is arrested by police.
Azad and Zacharia have a confrontation which results in Zacharia being buried under wheat.
The Burglar by David Goodis had been published in 1953 and filmed in 1956. Goodis was popular with French filmmakers; his novel Down There had been adapted by Francois Truffaut as Shoot the Piano Player (1961).
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Wikipedia