One of the iconic heist films—the crime subgenre focused on the preparation, execution and aftermath of a major theft or robbery—is a French-Italian coproduction graced with a unique feature that makes every cinephile sit up: three of the most beloved French actors of all time appear together on screen. It seems that the police are closing in on the career of notorious thief Roger Sartet (Alain Delon), thanks to the dogged persistence of Commissioner Le Goff (Lino Ventura). However, a Sicilian clan led by patriarch Vittorio Manalese (Jean Gabin) enters the game, as a display of highly valuable jewels is being prepared in Rome’s Villa Borghese… The surgically precise procedural drama is elevated to cult status by the renowned score of Ennio Morricone.
Henri Verneuil (1920 – 2002) was a French-Armenian film director and screenwriter renowned for his extensive body of mainstream commercial cinema produced in post-war France. Over four decades, Verneuil directed more than 30 feature films, achieving commercial success with comedies, thrillers, and dramas that often starred prominent French actors such as Jean Gabin, Alain Delon, and Jean-Paul Belmondo. His breakthrough came with the 1952 drama "Forbidden Fruit" (1952), which garnered international recognition, followed by the Oscar-nominated comedy "The Sheep Has Five Legs" in 1954. Standout works include "Un singe en hiver" (1962), "Any Number Can Win" (1963), "The Sicilian Clan" (1969), and the political thriller "I... For Icarus" (1979), the latter earning a Palme d'Or nomination at Cannes.
