Bob Le Flambeur
Director- Jean-Pierre Melville
Cast- Roger Duchesne, Daniel Cauchy, Howard Vernon
Country of Origin- France
Distributor - Kino Lorber
Number of Discs - 1
Reviewed by - Tyler Miller
Date- 09/30/2019
Crime and action cinema owe a huge debt to master french filmmaker Jean-Pierre Melville. Melville was something of an oddity in post-war France. He was a man obsessed with American cinema, and like Sergio Leone with the western, Melville would soon transform crime movies into nocturnal masterpieces.
BOB LE FLAMBEUR (1956, aka “Bob the Gambler”) tells the story of Bob (Duchesne), a former bank robber who has a crippling addiction to gambling. As the days go by he is slowly losing all of his money. He is also growing older and fate is closing in. As his luck starts to run out, he decides to come out of retirement for one more heist.
Melville often gets looped in with Nouvelle Vague filmmakers, but his early films predate the trend. Looking at BOB, it’s clear to see its influence on the Cahiers du cinema crowd. Mostly shot on location, the film is a love letter to the grittier side of Paris with plenty of handheld camera moves and crisp photography. Melville and company establish a moody tone. These characters live by the night like gangster vampires, and there fractured code of the underworld is all that matters.
In the tradition of all the great heist films, This movie is well paced in the mechanics of the robbery and getting the crew together. The actual crime is actually down played. Melville’s world is more interested in the world of tough guys and “in the know” lingo then showy action or spectacle. This is a world of losers with a sense of ocean breeze cool. Bits of this can be seen in the films of Michael Mann, especially HEAT and THE INSIDER.
Kino Lorber’s Blu-ray is a great showcase for the film. The 1080p HD transfer is spotless with some crisp looks at the Paris nightlife. There is some minor film grain and some motion blur on the sides of the screen during some of the driving scenes. The 2.0 French DTS-HD Master Audio is smooth with no pops or crackles. The musical score is clear with some nice bass elements. English Subtitles are included.
The disc is loaded with extras. First up is an informative commentary by film historian and critic Nick Pinkerton. The track is packed with details on the film’s production and Melville’s legacy. Next up is “Diary of a Villain” is a 26 minute featurette looking at the film’s production and Paris of the 1950’s. There is plenty cool stories about Melville’s studio, and his passion for all things American Pop Culture. Rounding out the disc is a trailer gallery featuring BOB LE FLAMBEUR,LE DOULOS, TOUCHEZ PAS AU GRISBI, RAZZIA SUR LA CHNOUF, and ALPHAVILLE.
Kino’s Blu-ray is a wonderful upgrade on one of the best Frnech crime films. Melville’s style is kept on this handsome release. This release is a must have addition to any fan’s collections. Highly Recommended.
