Jacques Deray Movies
A renowned French director of gangster movies, thrillers, and neo-noir films, Jacques Deray was born Jacques Desrayaud to a family of Lyons industrialists. He became interested in acting at an early age and went to study drama in Paris under René Simon. Deray played minor roles on the stage and screen through 1952, when he became an assistant director working with Jean Boyer, Gilles Grangier, Luis Buñuel, and Jules Dassin, among others. In 1960, he made his own directorial debut with Le Gigolo, but his reputation was not established until 1969's La Piscine, starring Romy Schneider and Alain Delon. With Delon, Deray went on to make eight more films including Borsalino, a seriocomic gangster picture that raked in five million admissions in France alone. Dedicated to the genre that won him favor with the audience, the director explored crime in its various guises: psychological thriller (Un Papillon sur l'Epaule), police actioner (Le Marginal), neo-noir thriller (On Ne Meurt Que Deux Fois), and spy film (Netchaïev Est de Retour). On these films, Deray worked with some of the biggest French stars of the period such as Jean-Paul Belmondo, Lino Ventura, Michel Serrault, and Yves Montand. A connoisseur of crime fiction, he adapted many French and English authors including Georges Simenon, Jean-Patrick Manchette, and Robin Cook. Though Deray's last big-screen venture was L'Ours en Peluche in 1994, he continued working for television and remained professionally active until his death. ~ Yuri German, All Movie Guide
- 1994
This unique French offering is a compilation of 30 short films focused on AIDS. The mini-films were based on over 3,000 ideas put in by French school children and were made by filmmakers on a voluntary basis. Most of the vignettes deal with heterosexuality and AIDS, but one deals with drug-usage, and one with homosexuality. It took four production houses three years to create this inspirational and informative film. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anémone, Daniel Gélin, (more)
- 1994
This Italian psychological thriller is based on as novel by Georges Simenon. Delon is an immoral, gynecologist who frequently cheats on his wife. He is also very successful and has a richly appointed office in Brussels. His good life begins to change when he finds himself receiving death threats and a mysterious teddy bear. After he finds himself responsible for two deaths, he relinquishes his womanizing ways and goes back home. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Francesca Dellera, (more)
- 1991
Very few people know that Pierre Marroux (Yves Montand) is the father of the famous terrorist Netchaiev (Vincent Lindon), and that's the way he likes to keep it. His boy is now presumed to be dead, and he has a job to do, protecting the safety of those who pay him. However, the boy has recently returned to Paris with a group on an operation. Netchaiev is tired of being a hunted man and is shopping his potential confession around for the best deal. This puts him at odds with his colleagues past and present, and his life is in great danger. When Pierre learns of the situation, he tries to use his skills to find his son before his killers do. Along the way, he learns that the French government has a very shady deal with the terrorists, and it wants Netchaiev dead, too. This thriller is based on a novel by Jacques Semprun. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vincent Lindon, Yves Montand, (more)
- 1989
In this gothic romance based on a 1950s novel by Robert Margerit, after a whirlwind romance, Violette (Beatrice Dalle), a Parisian girl, has married Gustave Dupin (Philippe Volter), a charming aristocrat, and returned with him to live on his country estate. There, she begins to discover that all is not as it seemed, and beneath her groom's charming exterior is an undreamt-of savagery. She forms an alliance with her husband's much saner brother Bastien (Stephane Freiss) which saves her in the end, but not before she must go on trial for the murder of her husband. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Béatrice Dalle, Stéphane Freiss, (more)
- 1987
Juliette (Nastassja Kinski) is a hairstylist who is diagnosed with cancer in this tearjerking romantic drama. Her illness leads her to oncologist Raoul Bergeron (Michel Piccoli), and she ends up as his mistress. When Juliette falls in love with Raoul's intern Clement (Jean-Hughes Anglade), the jealous doctor threatens to sabotage Clement's career. Juliette spends the rest of the film jumping from Raoul to Clement and back again. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nastassja Kinski, Jean-Hugues Anglade, (more)
- 1986
Commissioner Stan Jalard (Jean-Paul Belmondo) takes in his godson after the boy's father, who is also Stan's police partner, is murdered in this routine action thriller. Stan chases the heavy until he catches up with him. He levies his gun on the killer as he decides whether to shoot him or let him spend life in prison. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean-Pierre Malo, (more)
- 1985
On Ne Meurt Que Deux Fois, a French murder mystery based upon a novel of the same name, is an unusual, involving film with excellent performances by its entire cast. Police Inspector Staniland (Michel Serrault) is investigating the death of a pianist. While conducting his investigation and looking through the victim's apartment, he meets Barbara (Charlotte Rampling), the mistress of the murder victim. Barbara confesses to the crime, but Staniland, based on his observations and experience, does not believe her. He then sets out to find the truth, with surprising results. Both Serrault and Rampling are outstanding in this well-directed, well-paced film. On Ne Meurt Que Deux Fois was also released as He Died With His Eyes Open and won the Jury Prize at the 1985 Montreal World Film Festival. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michel Serrault, Charlotte Rampling, (more)
- 1983
In another typical Jean-Paul Belmondo vehicle, the French action hero plays a policeman prone to advancing the cause of justice by any means necessary. On his agenda is a powerful drug cartel working out of Paris and Marseilles, with a drug lord (Henry Silva) who is essentially inaccessible -- but not immortal. Stunts (performed by Belmondo) and chase scenes on land and water enliven the story, but the scenes with Belmondo's love interest are rather marginal themselves. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Henry Silva, (more)
- 1980
Michel Gerfaut (Alain Delon) makes his living playing poker. But when he stops to help an injured motorist on the side of the road one night, he unwittingly gets involved in a sinister arms deal cover-up. The capable Gerfaut goes on holiday, bringing his longtime girlfriend, Béa (Dalila Di Lazzaro), to Trouville to meet his mother (Simone Renant). He soon finds himself the target of killers hired by the pompous Emmerich (Pierre Dux) and his ruthless underling, Leprince (Michel Auclair), who suspect he's working for their competitors. Gerfaut unsuccessfully tries to get help from a policeman friend, but the police are tied in with the crooked military aeronautics company. Backed into a corner, Gerfaut strikes back against his attackers, eventually taking the fight right to Emmerich's doorstep. Three Men to Kill, based on the well-regarded novel by Jean-Patrick Manchette, was directed by Jacques Deray, who also co-wrote the script with frequent collaborator (Borsalino et al) Delon, who also produced, and Christopher Frank. Delon and Frank later adapted Manchette's Pour la peau d'un flic for the actor's directorial debut. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Dalila di Lazzaro, (more)
- 1978
- R
Roland Fériaud (Lino Ventura), on returning from a seaside vacation, discovers a corpse in a room adjoining his. He is abducted by a mysterious group who take him to a clinic of some kind, where he is interrogated. He is shown a small suitcase he has never seen before, and he tries in vain to understand what it is his captors want. Director Jacques Deray specialized in this kind of thriller, which is a typical specimen of the genre. At this time Lino Ventura was at the peak of his stardom, playing silent, stoical heros after the manner of Jean Gabin. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lino Ventura, Nicole Garcia, (more)
- 1977
Based on a novel by Roger Borniche, this crime drama retells the story of the renowned gangster "Pierrot le Fou," whose band of robbers sought out banks and factories in the period just after the Second World War, when the French police forces were in disarray. In the movie, Alain Delon plays Robert, the gangleader, who plans for his gang to perform a large number of major robberies in one day. After that, he and his gang will retire comfortably for a time with the loot. Performed with split-second timing, the robberies go well almost to the end. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Nicole Calfan, (more)
Borniche (Alain Delon) has three difficult tasks before him: to keep a rein on police violence, to cut through bureaucratic red tape in order to do his job, and to find Buisson (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and put him behind bars. Based on a true story which takes place in 1947, Buisson is a psychopath who enjoys finding excuses for blowing people to oblivion while ostensibly just robbing them. In his deranged way, Buisson achieves some kind of harmony with Borniche and the police. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Jean-Louis Trintignant, (more)
The 1970 French crime flick Borsalino featured Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo as charismatic gangsters in 1930s Marseilles. Belmondo was killed off in that film, but Delon survived to show up in the 1974 sequel Borsalino and Co. (actually filmed just after the original, but not released for several years). Seeking redress for the death of his partner, Roch (Delon) disposes of his enemies in a variety of novel (and gruesome) methods. Both Borsalino and Co. and its predecessor were inspired by Eugene Saccomano's novel The Bandits of Marseilles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Riccardo Cucciolla, (more)
- 1973
This French-produced thriller was shot entirely in English. Jean-Louis Tritignant stars as Lucien, a hit man who goes to Los Angeles to end the life of an important local mobster. The mobster's heirs, who hired Lucien, had already hired yet another hit man (Roy Scheider) to kill him. He speaks very little English, and the lifestyles and customs of Los Angelenos puzzle him completely. One of the films highlights is its use of many unusual decayed and shabby sites in the Los Angeles area, such as Venice Beach. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Louis Trintignant, Ann-Margret, (more)
- 1971
In this French comedy, Alain Delon is Simon, a young man who has entered the priesthood after learning of the death of his wife, Rita (Nathalie Delon). Problems abound when he discovers her among the living, and living as a hooker, no less. Paul Meurisse lends his dry humor to the proceedings as Simon's bishop, who is nostalgic for Medieval times when many questioned whether women had souls at all. Simon, released from his vows, must now rescue Rita from becoming a nun. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Meurisse, Natalie Delon, (more)
Based on a melancholy romance by Francoise Sagan, this film recounts the circumstances of a relationship from start to tragic finish. Among other things, it features an early film appearance by Gerard Depardieu in a small role. Gilles (Marc Porel) works for a news agency and has an American mistress. It is a good job, and his mistress is very pretty, but he feels depressed. He is unable to shake his melancholy and goes to visit his sister in the countryside. There, he meets a mature woman whose inner richness attracts him. They form a relationship which brings her back to Paris with him. She has cut all her ties to her old life in order to be with him and then discovers that her love for him is much greater than his for her, though he does not wish to be unkind. Indeed, he cannot conceal that he is bored with her. Devastated, and wishing to set him free, she commits suicide. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claudine Auger, Marc Porel, (more)
- 1970
- R
Based on a Eugene Saccomano novel entitled The Bandits of Marseilles, this movie was followed by a sequel entitled Borsalino and Co. This movie captures the mood of 1930 Marseilles beautifully with the use of ambience and music. Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo portray two gangsters who kill their way to the top. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Jean-Paul Belmondo, (more)
- 1969
- PG
Jean-Paul (Alain Delon) is an out-of-work writer having an affair with Marianne (Romy Schneider), a successful journalist. As they frolic in a swimming pool in St. Tropez, she receives as call from the record executive Harry (Maurice Ronet). He arrives with his nubile young daughter (Jane Birkin). Harry and Marianne were once lovers and he makes a pass at her. Meanwhile, Jean-Paul makes a pass at Harry's daughter. After some drinking, Harry and Jean-Paul fight, resulting in Harry being pushed into the pool. Jean-Paul refuses to help the struggling man as he drowns, and the young couple tries to get their stories straight in order to avoid being charged with murder in this sometimes masochistic feature from France. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, (more)
- 1966
In this crime drama, a gang of thieves steal an armored van carrying a gold shipment in the Moroccan desert. Though the caper is successful, the gang members begin fighting over the loot and two of them are killed. Three members are left and more trouble ensues when two of them (they are lovers) steal the gold and leave the other. The abandoned one swears revenge and begins to chase the two doublecrossers. When the angry crook catches up with the pair, the woman ends up betraying her lover and fleeing with him. The newly abandoned one, who decided he loved the girl more than he did the money, stays behind to nurse his broken heart. Eventually the fleeing crooks are cornered by the police and killed. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Hamilton, Claudine Auger, (more)
- 1966
A French secret agent Lino Ventura gets a license to kill when he is sent to Vienna to plug a security leak in this routine spy saga. He is caught in the crossfire of international enemy agents trying to eliminate the French. He dodges bullets fired by double-crossing double agents and a mysterious spy affiliated with either the Soviet Union or China. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lino Ventura, Jean Bouise, (more)
- 1965
Francis (Jean-Paul Belmondo) is a hard-boiled hood who is talked into pulling off a job for the aging racketeer Frank (Akim Tamiroff) in this routine gangster drama. With the help of the sister of a kidnapped heiress, they try and track down the missing woman. The duo break into a house occupied by an artist and his family, and the artist is sent to contact his father while the rest of the family are held as hostages. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Sophie Daumier, (more)
