Borsalino (1970)
In 1930 Marseilles two small-time crooks join forces when they meet brawling over a woman. Starting with fixed horse races and fights, they start to find themselves doing jobs for the local gangster bosses. When they decide to go into the business for themselves, their easy-going approach to crime starts to change.
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The Worst Film Ever
Absolutely the worst movie.
Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.
The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
Late 1920ies and the 1930ies were apparently the years when gallantry and stylishness saw their peak: war wounds were mostly healed, people acquired wealth, aristocracy and bourgeoisie were able to spend on entertainment and diversity again. Such was the background in the 1930 Marseille, where two small-time crooks join forces after an odd meeting, begin with fixed horse races and fights, and the continue in doing jobs for local top gangsters. Viewers can see several fine places, with wealthy people wearing stylish clothes, enjoying a good music/games/food, sometimes disrupted by shootings, chases and fights, mostly related to the two leading characters - François Capella and Roch Siffredi, splendidly performed by famous character actors Jean-Paul Belmondo and Alain Delon, respectively. Their talent and elegance is visible throughout the film, outperforming all their co-actors, and the French language is a booster of the atmosphere (U.S. gangster films are usually gloomier and rougher).Borsalino is a fine example of French action movies made in the 1960- 70ies; luckily, it is a colour film and shows fully the talents of Belmondo and Delon. I try to watch its sequel as soon as possible.
... as they say in France when they find something excellent. In one sense this is a natural successor to the gangster/buddy movies that paired Jean Gabin with Lino Ventura in the fifties but with a tad of English for good measure. It's a Marseilles that Marcel Pagnol chose to ignore, a city filled with hookers, pimps, and gangsters rather than Frank Capra salts of the earth, a city in which - at the time it was set - a nine-year old Yves Montand was growing up and it's a nice touch to throw in a mention of the Alcazar, the Music Hall where Montand played in his first years in the business. Beginning as petty crooks and rivals coming to blows over a woman Delon and Belmondo not only bond but join forces and gradually rise through the ranks until they are running organised crime in the city. It's a fine blend of drama and comedy with a 'Sting' type theme tune that puts one in mind of Newman and Redford, another great team. Well worth seeking out.
"Borsalino" is one of the all-time fun French gangster films. I saw it in a cinema in Paris when I studied there eons ago, but just try to find the DVD or videotape! I guess they're trying to increase its rarity value by foisting a much inferior film, Borsalino & Company, on Delon and Belmondo fans. Well, this is the genuine article, more Marseille than the real city, perhaps 70 years or so ago, so just enjoy the great dialogue and scenarios IF YOU EVER MANAGE TO GET YOUR HANDS ON THIS TAPE OR (BETTER) DVD, NOT DUBBED but with subtitles s'il vous plaît. The soundtrack by Claude Bolling (sporadically available on CD) is the perfect accompaniment, and the combination of the French cinema's two most popular young actors made this an all time favorite in France. In the final analysis, style certainly triumphs over substance, and you'll never forget you are seeing Delon and Belmondo. This film has stuck in my mind all these years, and I think you'll be just as impressed as I was... bonne chance!
We located this 1970 Film BORSALINO, English Version with No Subtitles in a small video store in French Canada.......It is not easy to find anymore and most of the old ex-rentals have been tampered with...........Borsalino features Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo as charismatic gangsters in 1930s Marseilles who join forces when they meet brawling over a woman.. with fixed horse races and fights, they start to find themselves doing jobs for the local gangster bosses. When they decide to go into the business for themselves, their easy-going approach to crime starts to change........Inspired by Eugene Saccomano's novel The Bandits of Marseilles. ...The version we have is 2 Hours 5 Minutes long and is the most complete we have been able to find....We have never been able to locate a French Version in 9 years of looking........BQA Films