Du Rififi Chez les Hommes (Rififi) poster & wallpaper
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Jean Servais, Carl Mohner, Robert Manuel, Magali Noël, Perlo Vita ... see more see more... , Marie Sabouret , Marcel Lupovici , Robert Hossein , Janine Darcey , Pierre Grasset , Dominique Maurin , Claude Sylvain

Jules Dassin -- in his second European film after being driven out of the United States during the years of the house Un-American Activities Committee hearings -- directed this landmark caper film abo... read more read more...ut the planning and execution of a nighttime robbery at a swanky English jewelry shop in the Rue de Rivoli. The story concerns a collection of thieves who band together to commit a seemingly impossible robbery. The gang consists of a tough, straight-talker named Tony Stephanois (Jean Servais); a young man under Tony's tutelage named Jo (Carl Mohner; a happy-go-lucky Italian by the name of Mario Farrati (Robert Manuel); and a safecracker named Cesar (the director Jules Dassin under the pseudonym of Perlo Vita) who likes to jiggle the combinations of women in his off hours. The set piece of the film is an intricate 28-minute sequence that depicts the robbery in detail -- all filmed silently without dialogue or music. After the success of the robbery, the gang barely has time to celebrate when a rival gangster, Pierre Gruuter (Marcel Lupovici), decides that he wants a cut of the take. When Tony's gang refuses to cooperate, Pierre kidnaps Jo's son, and the gang has to get tough with their nemesis. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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94% liked it

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93% liked it

41 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 55 min.

Directed by: Jules Dassin

Release Date: June 5, 1956

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DVD Release Date: April 24, 2001

Stats: 552 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (552)

  • cosmo313
    June 12, 2011
    cosmo313
    This is a (French) film noir heist thriller....could it really get any better than that? No, not really. Aside from the fact that it was difficult to read the subtitles at times (black and white film with white/gray lettering), this is a top notch film, and I can see why it is re... read moregarded as one of the best and most influential heist films. It's also one of the more artful films of its type too, mostly with how it is constructed and executed.

    The plot is pretty standard for this type of film: criminal gets out of jail, gets involved in a lucrative score. All seems perfect, and starts off that way, but thigns fall apart, and all hell breaks loose. Much of this film (either plot or certain elements) has turned up in places such as Heat, Mission: Impossible, and the Ocean's trilogy, among others. Sometimes it is just as homage or reference, other times it seems like theft *cue rimshot*.

    This is just some incredibly thrilling and well done stuff. One sequence that is often mentioned is the film's centerpiece: the heist scene. It is roughly a half hour long, and nearly silent (no talking or music, but some occasional sound). Doing things this way really adds to the atmosphere and builds up the suspense and tension to an almost unbearable level.

    The final portion of the film involves the fallout of the job, and, for its time, some of this must have seemed rather violent and shocking. Nowadays, not so much, but it's still pretty engaging stuff.

    A remake of this has been planend for quite some time, and, if it ever gets made, it could be good, but regardless, do yourself a favor and check this one out. It's truly a marvelous and masterful film.
  • rubystevens
    October 7, 2010
    rubystevens
    the awful news of a remake starring al pacino has just ruined my day D:
    and for those who don't know, dassin wasn't a french filmmaker at all. he was born in connecticut of russian-jewish parents and grew up in harlem. he moved to europe after being blacklisted in 1950 during p... read moreroduction of night and the city. did hollywood learn nothing from the pathetic 1992 remake of that film with robert de niro? gah!!!!!!
  • ebs90
    August 19, 2009
    ebs90
    Rififi is a truly absorbing, brilliantly executed film by French filmmaker Jules Dassin. In it, a group of four thieves plan the perfect heist, but are ultimately betrayed by their passions and impulses. It is a very pessimistic, dark masterpiece.

    Jean Servais plays the broodi... read moreng, lonely main character. He brings the brilliance into the scheme; he's a tortured, experienced criminal who is just out of jail. He is constantly quiet, keeps his motives secret, and conceals with zeal his weak points. Above all, he is the anti hero who redeems himself at the end, if such word as "redemption" can apply. He and his French friend, whose son is his godson, and two Italian thieves -one of which is an expert safebox breaker- begin to plan a 20 million Francs robbery at a jewelry store. During the first half of the film, the group is shown in painstaking observation and evaluation of the routine in and an around the store. Finally, the night comes to execute the plan, and this develops into one of the most fascinating, maybe even exquisite, robbery scenes I have ever seen. For many minutes there is hardly a sound, except perhaps that of the rest of the audience in the theater, hearts beating or nervous breathing. It is wonderfully hypnotizing and mortifying, filmed with such precision and style that it immediately produces admiration. I think that to any film lover this will be close to an ecstatic experience.

    Technical perfection is not the sole, dominant aspect of Rififi. The four main characters are very well outlined and very well acted; Jean Servais is as archtypical a noir leading man as there ever was in American cinema. Together they embody the carelessness of having nothing to lose, the fierceness of wanting to win everything, and the sadness that such emptiness must helplessly imply. There are also the gloomy, atmospheric shots in the streets of Paris to set the mood, and provide background for the twists and turns of the plot. With a clear narrative style, Rififi successfuly incorporates fragmented scenes, composed of angular takes against the sky and roads of Paris, in a way that reminded me very much of later New Wave films.

    It is not only a thrilling, suspenseful "action" film, but Du Rififi Chez les Hommes is also a complex drama and styllistic gem. It has violence, humor, sex, and crimes that do not go unpunished. One of those films that really seem to come full circle and satisfy not only us, but themselves.
  • flixsterman
    July 23, 2009
    flixsterman
    Vintage 1955 French film noir that's reminiscent of The Asphalt Jungle (1950). Jean Servais brings a certain ambiance to the lead role that's part George Raft and part Humphrey Bogart with just a little Joe Pesci thrown in for good measure. Good stuff. Very, very good stuff.
  • 5oclockcoffee
    May 20, 2009
    5oclockcoffee
    Fantastic with all that a noir film has: the loner, troubled and pessimistic protagonist; the femme fatale; the nice wife; a corrpupt world; the perfect crime.

    And a long sequence entirely without dialogue or music. Amazing!


    ... read moree=rififi2.jpg'>
  • sanjurosamurai
    April 28, 2009
    sanjurosamurai
    an absolutely captivating crime story and probably one of the three best heist films ever made. the second act, a 33 minute heist sequence with no dialogue and limited score, is probably the greatest heist sequence in film history. the film also takes the bold and genius step o... read moref not having the heist be the climax as dassin is aware enough to realize that the heist is never the true end to any heist story. the final act is brilliant and even more enthralling than the heist itself. my only criticism is a subjective one in that i spent two hours investing in the story and its characters and i felt that the final scene lacked closure to an otherwise perfect story. all together this is really one of the most clever films ever made.
  • pier007
    April 20, 2008
    pier007
    Expatriate filmmaker Jules Dassin pulls off a paris style noir masterpiece. Starring a great world-weary french Bogey Jean Servais. full of all my beloved noir keys, darkness, gloomy atmospheres, losers without a dime but with everything at stake, a well planned but ultimately go... read morene wrong heist and the unavoidable disastrous destiny knocking on everybody's door. suspenseful, deep and utterly compelling.
  • kenstachnik
    November 11, 2007
    kenstachnik
    Best use of an umbrella EVER!
  • DrZeek
    May 24, 2007
    DrZeek
    Louise: You're not the only one that had an unhappy childhood, there are millions like you, and, in my eyes, *they* are the tough ones, not you!

    A brilliant film noir, about four men pulling off a heist and the aftermath of the event. Made in 1954, this is one of the first caper... read more films and one of the most immitated. You can easily see references made in films like Reservoir Dogs, Ocean's 11, The Score, and many others.

    Directed by Jules Dassin who, at that time, had been blacklisted from Hollywood, creates a great film, set in France with a great attention to detail.

    The film centers on a man who has just been released from jail for robbery, only to join another group of men for another heist.

    The heist takes place around the middle of the film. It is a 30 minute sequence, with no score or dialogue, comprised only of breathing and various noises from the setting. Its a great sequence to watch.

    The rest of the film is equally well done, with the various characters all given a good amount of depth.

    The tone of the film is very dark. There is a lot of violence and bloodshed. This is a film about criminals, and the film isn't afraid to show a certain level of realism concerning that topic.

    As the story unfolds, especially after the heist, I was more and more engrossed in what was going to happen.

    It also looks great. France is shown in such a dark way, while being captured beautifully.

    The interaction between characters is well done, with a mix of humorous, cold, and witty lines exchanged constantly.

    The whole film is so well done, it is easily one of the best all time noirs.
  • mjgildea
    April 15, 2007
    mjgildea
    Such a great movie. It's a heist picture that could pass off as cliche until you remember that this is probably the mold for the others. The heist itself runs about a half hour in almost total silence--brilliantly! If it wasn't for Night in the City I'd say this is Dassin's mast... read moreerpiece.

View All Du Rififi Chez les Hommes (Rififi) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
October 30, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

It took an experienced US director, Jules Dassin, who has lived in France some years, to give the French gangster pic the proper tension, mounting and treatment. This pic has something intrinsically G... Full Review

Dave Kehr
October 30, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

The film turns moralistic and sour in the last half, when the thieves fall out. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
October 30, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

A familiar but effective parable of honor among thieves. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

This is perhaps the keenest crime film that ever came from France, including Pepe le Moko and some of the best of Louis Jouvet and Jean Gabin. Full Review

Roger Ebert
September 27, 2002
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

There is something else unique about the heist scene: It is the centerpiece of the film, not the climax. Full Review

Kenneth Turan
February 13, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

One of the great crime thrillers, the benchmark all succeeding heist films have been measured against, it's no musty museum piece but a driving, compelling piece of work, redolent of the air of human ... Full Review

Joe Baltake
February 13, 2001
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

The things the guys do in Rififi to get the job done are impressively innovative and always believable. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
January 1, 2000
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

I won't bore you by rhapsodizing over the moody poetic night world artistry of Rififi. Full Review

J. Hoberman
January 1, 2000
J. Hoberman, Village Voice

Features posturing aplenty -- particularly if you include the climactic gunfire arabesques. No one, however, has nearly the doomed glamour of the tight-lipped, gimlet-eyed, consumptive Tony Le Stéphan... Full Review

Emanuel Levy
April 1, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

This crime-heist film by the blacklisted director Jules Dassin is his masterpiece, a seminal, thoroughly detailed chronicle of a robbery and its violent aftermath that continues to exert influence on ... Full Review

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