Rififi

After making such film noir classics as The Naked City (1948) and Night and the City (1950), director Jules Dassin found himself on Hollywood's blacklist, and lit out for the other capital of cinema, Paris, where he adapted, directed, and starred in one of the most influential heist caper films ever made. 1955's Rififi stars Jean Gervais as a tired ex-con who hooks up with three other criminals for one last big score--a jewelry store safe knockover that is presented in a tension-ridden, dialogue-less, 35-minute sequence that serves as the film's centerpiece. Sporting considerable violence for its time, Rififi's twists and turns all eventually lead to the same dead end street called Crime Doesn't Pay, but in life as in cinema, it's the journey not the destination, and this is a grand ride for film buffs. Criterion's new digital transfer is beautiful (and its fascinating to see the City of Lights circa 1955), and the extras include a wonderful interview with Dassin himself. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray/DVD Combo Review—Jan. 28, 2014—Criterion, 118 min., in French w/English subtitles, not rated, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $39.95—Making its latest appearance on DVD and debut on Blu-ray, 1955's Rififi boasts an excellent transfer and an uncompressed monaural audio soundtrack. Extras include a 2000 interview with director Jules Dassin (29 min.), set design drawings by art director Alexandre Trauner, productions stills, a trailer, and a booklet featuring an essay by critic J. Hoberman. Bottom line: Dassin's French classic makes a welcome debut on Blu-ray.]