Touchez Pas au Grisbi (The Criterion Collection) [DVD]

Class is often confused with style and fashion in the regards to how one dresses. In our contemporary society this confusion is frequently expressed through flamboyance, which is usually the result of how money talks. However, this vain perception of class has nothing to do with one's self conduct. Refinement, sophistication, and class are qualities that should be attached with characteristics such as trust, confidence, and mutual respect. These qualities are what define a gentleman. When people see a true gentleman they only see the exterior, and it is this exterior that money buys.The days of gentlemen criminals are long gone. Films such as Scarface (1983), New Jack City (1991), or any of Takashi Miike's violent gangster illustrations depict the new style of gangsters that contemporary society is facing where disloyal and ill-mannered thugs roll in the direction of dough. These films visualize the frightening power money has on people. This could be seen up close in a grotesque manner in the brilliant Maria Full of Grace (2004) where humans are being regarded as pack mules. Touchez Pas Au Grisbi, which was shot over a half century ago, depicts the coming of this new criminal element.Nostalgia swallows Jacques Becker's crime story about the aging criminal and gentleman Max (Jean Gabin). The story takes place in Paris where Max lives life with a women half his age while spending untold numbers of nights desiring the same meaningless affection from the women seeking their way into men's wallets. The many visits to the night clubs have led Max to discover that he has grown old, and many of the people around him are older. The life he once desired is no longer as appealing, as he decides that he wants to return home early. Max even discloses this to his friend Riton (René Dary) while having found out that Riton's young girlfriend has found a younger lover, as she has previously given Riton empty promises of love.The professional life, which Max has chosen for himself is also undergoing a transformation. Younger generations are cutting into the growing drug business without the consideration of others, and these young newcomers show little class while they trample on everyone in their sight. Recently Max carried out a job that brought him and his partner Riton 50 million worth in Orly gold bars. This was to be Max's final job before retirement, however, the newcomers in the criminal underworld seem to want change his destiny.Touchez Pas Au Grisbi is a stunning gangster tale where the old ways are to face off with the new. This is depicted through Max who is undergoing a personal life changing experience, as he is confronted by events around him that make him question what he is doing. The character that Jean Gabin delivers to the screen is marvelously multifaceted, as he portrays the gentleman thief by being a tender lover, clever diplomat, friendly patron, and firm interrogator. The cast around Gabin also displays nice work as they all accentuate Max's uniqueness by being fairly simple characters. Much is due to Becker's marvelous directing, which comes together through all the aspects of filmmaking. This eventually leaves the audience in a haze of bewilderment, as Touchez Pas Au Grisbi offers a complex and enriching cinematic experience.

Like a fine wine, TOUCHEZ PAS AU GRISBI has aged wonderfully. Under the expert and loving hands of the folks at Criterion, we have an absolutely pristine print of this understated and refined French gangster movie. Watching the Criterion DVD is to fall completely into the film, as the restored black and white images are simply glorious.This movie is not like today's heavy-handed violent gangster movies, but a more elegant and sophisticated presentation that focuses on character development and its themes of loyalty, betrayal, and an adherence to a moral code. Jean Gabin, who plays the urbane and respected criminal Max, is the soul of this movie, presenting Max as charming, stoic, and ruthless. Great detail is given to ordinary tasks, like the serving of a meal, brushing of one's teeth, etc., but the effect, instead of arty, goes to the development of the characters and the portrayal of them as regular folks.Lest you believe this is a slow talky picture, there are moments of explosive violence that will send a chill through you. Suspense is created through the most effective of methods: by what you don't see and what is filled in by one's own imagination. As the tension mounts in the movie, you will be glued to the screen gripping the arms of your chair with withering anticipation. They don't make 'em like this anymore, neither here nor in Europe. This movie is a fine example of both French cinema before the New Wave, and of the gangster genre.In any language, TOUCHEZ PAS AU GRISBI means film excellence, especially after the careful, painstaking restoration by Criterion Studios.

I own the Criterion DVD as well as this newer Kino/Studio Canal Blu-Ray version. While agree with DVDBeaver that it is brighter, it also gets the benefit of being noticeably sharper and clearer as well. To be clear the Criterion edition is excellent for a DVD, but if you area a Collectionneuse like myself just get it! Fair warning however, I'm a guy who owns every version of Le Cercle Rouge!

Jacques Becker's ultra cool French gangster classic of respectable tough guy thief (the always wonderful Jean Gabin) recruited for one last gold heist ...and we all know mean what that means. Gritty, witty, and thrilling story of honor among thieves, with a perfect amount of cliche'. Awesome action sequences -machine gun shootout car chase is a standout- are remarkably modern and post-modern. A slick homage to American noir and gangster films is way ahead of it's time and top notch entertainment that inspired a generation. Kino Lorber's Blu Ray looks clean and crisp, has an audio commentary and documentary extras. Highly recommended. Also recommended: Bob Le Flambeur, Le Doulos (basically any of Jean-Pierre Melville's crime dramas), the classic Rififi of course, and Port Of Shadows also with Gabin, just to name a few in this great sub-genre.

One of the great French films of the 20th century, and would be deserving of 5-stars if I understood French. Alas, having to rely on Studio Canal's English subtitling to understand the dialogue, I was left frustrated by how much was obviously left untranslated. Yes, I know that a word-for-word translation of dialogue would ruin the experience of watching a movie, but in this case the failure to capture the feel and humor of the script left me wondering what I was missing.

serieux

Jean Gabin assolutamente straordinario e bravi tutti gli altri con Lino Ventura al suo esordio. Video e audio ottimi.

Producto conforme a lo descrito. Buena copia remasterizada en excelente B/N.

Arrived in good shape.

画質がHDマスターとの事ですが、通常バージョンの画質を持っていないため未確認です。痺れる台詞「俺たちには時間がないんだ」「重いだろう、持ってやろうか」と女性をからかったり、大人の男が紙袋からラスクをカラカラと皿にあけて酒を注ぐシーンなど痺れる描写満載です。