In 1970, to finally get a film starring the handsome and poised Alain Delon and the charming and rugged Jean-Paul Belmondo (the definition of cool), the expectations were understandably high for any audience member that was a fan, big or small, of French cinema. Even today, seeing the two French film legends on a poster for a promising gangster-flick – the genre that both icons had made their name in - conjures up a certain amount of excitement. And while the picture did well on its release, predating classics like The Godfather and The Sting, I cannot say confidently that Borsalino holds up like the classics that followed it.

In 1930’s Marseille, gangster Roch Siffredi (Delon) is released from prison and immediately goes looking for his former girlfriend, Lola (Catherine Rouvel). But the problem is that the alluring Lola has moved on from the quietly cool Siffredi to a more playful and boisterous type of petty gangster named Francois Capella (Belmondo). The two low-level criminals duke it out in a comical café brawl. Though the punches aren’t too convincing to the viewer, the scene is entertaining none-the-less and out of it, Siffredi and Capella become not enemies, but friends, and eventually partners.

They take on small jobs – fixing horse races and boxing matches. Easy money things for them. But they quickly rise through the ranks with their jobs becoming more serious, more ambitious…and more dangerous. They have the money, the power, but it’s only time before someone tries to bring the pair down.

Bosalino has the makings of a great gangster picture. A solid premise with the two biggest French film stars to ever live directed by notable French director, Jacques Deray. But ultimately, the results give us something rather dull and forgettable. Sure, the film has its moments. Delon and Belmondo play to their strengths in their respective roles, and it is certainly a joy to scene them go head-to-head and then eventually turn buddy-buddy as they strut and muscle their way through the criminal underground of 1930’s Marseille. Also, one of the very first scenes where Siffredi tries to interrogate a cabaret choreographer by setting the bar on fire perfectly sets up the type of ruthless and intimidating gangster he is (or at least wants to be). And there’s also a scene where Siffredi and Capella with other gangsters pour gasoline and all-over hanging slabs of meat in a meat market, setting them ablaze and instigating a vicious gunfight.

There are moments of excitement in Borsalino, no doubt, but for something that could either be filled to the brim with violence or tension, the film doesn’t really seem to have enough of either. It’s not bad by any means, but rather disappointing. And accompanied by an interesting and seemingly unfitting jaunty, jazz score, Borsalino feels silly at many points. And overall, it comes across more like a buddy movie than a gangster picture.

Home Video Distributor: Arrow
Available on Blu-ray - September 5, 2023
Screen Formats: 1.66:1
Subtitles: English
Audio: French: LPCM Mono; English: LPCM Mono
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

Two years before The Godfather and three years before The Sting, there was Borsalino, a wildly entertaining period-set gangster movie that brought together two icons of French cinema, Jean-Paul Belmondo (Breathless) and Alain Delon (Le Samourai). Marseille, 1930: small-time gangster Roch Siffredi (Delon) is released from prison and finds his former girlfriend Lola (Catherine Rouvel, Picnic on the Grass) has moved on and is now with Francois Capella (Belmondo), another petty crook. Initially at odds, the two men form a partnership that will see them rise through the ranks of organized crime in Marseille. But how far will they go in their pursuit of power and what price will they be forced to pay? Directed by Jacques Deray (La Piscine), written by Jean-Claude Carriere (Belle Du Jour), with a score by French Jazz pianist Claude Bolling, and costumes by Jacques Fonteray (Barbarella), Borsalino is a gallic gangster classic!

Video

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.66:1, the new 1080p restoration, overall, looks fine. There are no notable areas that are extraordinary nor problematic. The definition gives a decently sharp picture quality and the print looks fairly clean overall with no distracting imperfections. The color is rather muted with its tones, but it gives the film a nice warm color.

Audio

The original lossless 2.0 monoaural track offers a very clean and consistent sound quality. Dialogue, score, and sound effects all appear clean and crisp throughout the picture.

Supplements:

There is nothing lacking in the supplements for this release. With a commentary track, new interviews, and history of the film, there is plenty of things for fans of the film to gets their hands dirty with.

Commentary:

• New audio commentary by film scholar Josh Nelson

Special Features:

• The Music of Borsalino, a new interview with composer and film historian Neil Brand on Claude Bolling's score
• Dressing Down, a new interview with film scholar Elizabeth Castaldo Lundén on Jacques Fonteray's costume designs for Borsalino
• Le Magnifique Belmondo, an archive extra celebrating the unique talent and career of the beloved French actor
• Theatrical trailer
• Image gallery
• Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Ginette Vincendeau and an archival piece by Elisa Fulco
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella
• Double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella
• Six postcard-sized reproduction art cards

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Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 125 mins
Director: Jacques Deray
Writer: Jean-Claude Carrière; Jean CauJacques Deray
Cast: Jean-Paul Belmondo; Alain Delon; Catherine Rouvel
Genre: Crime | Drama
Tagline: Jacques Deray
Memorable Movie Quote:
Theatrical Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date: August 13, 1970
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: September 5, 2023
Synopsis: During the 1930s, in Marseilles, France, two small time crooks work for local crime bosses until they decide to go into business for themselves.