#448: MELVILLE, Jean-Pierre: Le Deuxième Souffle (1966)

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MELVILLE, Jean-Pierre (France)
Le Deuxième Souffle [1966]
Spine #448
DVD


With his customary restraint and ruthless attention to detail, director Jean-Pierre Melville follows the parallel tracks of French underworld criminal Gu (the inimitable Lino Ventura), escaped from prison and roped into one last robbery, and the suave Inspector Blot (Paul Meurisse), relentlessly seeking him. The implosive Le deuxième souffle captures the pathos, loneliness, and excitement of a life in the shadows with methodical suspense and harrowing authenticity, and contains one of the most thrilling heist sequences Melville ever shot.

144 minutes
Black & White
Monaural
in French
1:66:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2008
Director/Writers


From a screenplay and novel by José Giovanni.

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Sixteen-page booklet featuring an essay by film critic Adrian Danks.

Commentary

Featuring film scholar Ginette Vincendeau, author of Jean-Pierre Melville: An American in Paris, and film critic Geoff Andrew of the British Film Institute.

Video interview

With director Bertrand Tavernier, who served as publicity agent on the film.
Archival footage

Featuring interviews with Melville and actor Ventura.
Original theatrical trailer

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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