Albert Simonin Movies

From Dr. No director Terence Young comes this action thriller starring Charles Bronson as Joe Moran, an ex-con whose old gang of drug dealers has just been released from prison. When it turns out the thugs have been holding a grudge against him, they kidnap Moran's wife, played by Liv Ullmann. In order to get her back and get his revenge, Moran is forced to take on the whole crew by himself. Written by Albert Simonin and Shimon Wincelberg, Cold Sweat was based on the novel Ride the Nightmare by Twilight Zone scribe Richard Matheson. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Jean-Paul Belmondo is a lovable lothario who delights in his womanizing ways in this ribald comedy adventure. When two women can't get enough of him, he is chased to Tahiti and back to Paris by admiring females. His experiences are exhausting to the point that he considers giving up his life as a ladies man. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Four competing spies from rival countries attempt to seduce the widow of a brilliant scientist. The woman, a retired stripper, proves more than a match for the suave secret agents, leading to an increasing series of humorous complications. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

This crime comedy finds ex-gangster Fernand (Lino Ventura) receiving a call from a dying friend, a mob boss nicknamed "The Mexican" (Jacques Dumesnil). The doomed mobster talks Fernand into taking care of some criminal business and looking after his soon-to-be-married daughter (Sabine Sinjen). When a longtime mobster heavy, Volfoni (Bernard Blier) takes exception to Fernand for being an outsider, they come after Fernand who is equal to the task. He defends himself in a series of comical killings from the onslaught of the mob. Writer Albert Simonin adapted this comedy from his book Grisby or Not Grisby, with sharp dialogue written by Michel Audiard. Both Simonin and Audiard would later work on director Georges Lautner's Les Barbouzes/The Great Spy Chase which, along with Les Tontons Flingueurs, would again feature actors Francis Blanche, Lino Ventura and Bernard Blier. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi

Jean Gabin plays Charles, an aging gangster, newly released from prison. In fine Bogart tradition, the unrepentant Charles immediately sets to work planning a major casino heist in Cannes. His go-between for this endeavor is a chorus girl, whom Charles's associate Francis (Alain Delon) beds in order to win her confidence. This rapidly-paced suspenser was based on a novel by John Trinian. When first distributed in the US, the film travelled under the title Any Number Can Win. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This somewhat verbose, standard comic thriller involves one sharp gangster nicknamed Le Dabe (Jean Gabin) pitted against three others as they work on a counterfeiting operation. Le Dabe has just been cooling his heels in the hot tropics and has now resurfaced in France where he hooks up with the counterfeiting trio. Together, they print out millions in fake Dutch guilders, but along the way, the three friends scheme to double-cross Le Dabe as soon as their operation is completed. They obviously underestimate the man. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

In this drama, the hero finds himself beaten by gang members whose operation involves capturing young women and selling them as prostitute/slaves. When the hero's own fiancee ends up involved, he does everything he can to save her. Fortunately the police intervene, with guns blazing, and the day is saved. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

The French/Italian Adventures of Arsene Lupin is loosely based on stories by Maurice Leblanc. A sprightly opening-credits musical theme clues us in that none of what we're about to see should be taken too seriously. The titular Lupin, played by Robert Lamoreaux is a jewel robber in pre-World War 1 Germany. Moving in the highest social circles, Lamoreaux has as much fondness for the ladies as he does for his ill-gotten gains. One of his conquests is played by Liselotte Pulver, who as Lilo Pulver costarred with James Cagney and Horst Buchholz in Billy Wilder's One Two Three (she's the girl in the polka-dot dress). Lupin proves to be a patriot when he robs the coffers of France's enemy-to-be Kaiser Wilhelm. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi