Le Clan des Siciliens Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Le Clan des Siciliens Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 7, 2013

Henri Verneuil's "Le clan des Siciliens" a.k.a. "The Sicilian Clan" (1969) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 20th Century Fox-France. The supplemental features on the disc include a brand new documentary film produced by Jerome Wybon; video interview with director Fred Cavaye; and the English-language version of the film. In French and Italian, with optional English, English SDH, Spanish, German, Italian, French (partial) and Traditional Mandarin subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The Corsican

Corsican gangster Roger Sartet (Alain Delon, Le Samourai, Rocco and His Brothers) negotiates a deal with a powerful Sicilian crime family to get him out of jail. Later on he meets the head of the family, Vittorio Manalese (Jean Gabin, Le Quai Des Brumes, French Cancan), and shows him the blueprints of a popular museum where some very rare jewels are displayed. The men quickly agree that if they steal the jewels and sell them they will finally have enough to retire and enjoy life.

While Sartet lays low to avoid Inspector Le Goff (Lino Ventura, Army of Shadows, Classe Tous Risques), who has started investigating his escape, Manalese contacts Tony Nicosia (Amedeo Nazzari, Fast and Sexy, Nights Of Cabiria), an expert and childhood friend ‘from the old country’ now living in New York, and he arrives in Rome to inspect the museum. Much to Manalese’s disappointment, Nicosia announces that robbing the place would be a suicide mission because the local authorities have installed a brand new American device that can detect any movement after the museum is closed and immediately alert the police even if the main security system is disabled. To demonstrate the efficacy of the device, Nicosia hides his expensive Swiss watch in a newspaper and places it in the museum’s lobby. Moments after the museum is closed, the device detects the movement inside the watch and the place is surrounded by armed policemen.

Before they part ways, the two friends decide that if one of them figures out how to safely steal the jewels the other will be promptly informed by a trusted third party. Then Manalese heads back to Paris, while Nicosia returns home to New York.

Soon after, a middle-aged man appears in Manalese’s office and informs him that Nicosia has found a way to steal the jewels. The plan is to hijack the United Overseas Airlines plane that will transport the jewels from Rome to New York for an upcoming exhibition.

Henri Verneuil’s Le clan des Siciliens a.k.a. The Sicilian Clan is an old-school gangster film with cracking performances by three iconic European actors: Delon, Gabin, and Ventura. Because of their massive international fan base, the film was shot simultaneously in French and English. (Delon did his own lines in English, while the rest of the actors were later on overdubbed by American actors).

The Sicilian Clan is not the best of Verneuil’s gangster films, but it is one of his most enjoyable. It has that relaxed neo-noir style that was very popular in European crime films from the late‘60s and early‘70s -- for similar style and atmosphere see Verneuil’s Any Number Can Win and Jose Giovanni’s Two Men in Town -- which effectively masks its dated plot holes. Indeed, quite often the focus of attention is not on the specific actions of the big stars, but on their attitudes and the way they handle themselves in front of the camera.

Verneuil’s films, however, have little in common with Jean-Pierre Melville’s equally stylish films. Many of Melville’s best films are essentially minimalistic character studies of gangsters who speak only when they must. Verneuil’s films like the lives the gangsters live – or at least until fate catches up with them.

The lensing by the legendary cinematographer Henri Decae (Louis Malle’s Elevator to the Gallows, Francois Truffaut’s The 400 Blows, Rene Clement’s Purple Noon ) is terrific. Even seemingly unimportant sequences look incredibly stylish. Various close-ups of Delon and Gabin wearing thick black glasses also could have been used in trendy magazines.

The film is also complimented by a top-notch soundtrack composed by the great Ennio Morricone. The playful themes very effectively enhance the already fantastic atmosphere.

Le Clan des Siciliens Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Henri Verneuil's The Sicilian Clan arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 20th Century Fox-France.

Please note that the disc contains the official French and English-language versions of the film. The English-language version is placed in the supplemental features section of the disc.

1. French-language version: 02.02.46 (1080p).
2. English-language version: 01.58.23 (1080p).

The high-definition transfer has been struck from a dated source, most likely the same master that was used for the yellow DVD release of the film in France. There are tiny flecks that pop up here and there, a few light scratches, and even a few vertical yellow lines/marks (see screencaptures #8 and 18). However, none of these age-related imperfections become distracting. Generally speaking, image depth and clarity are very pleasing. Some minor contrast fluctuations are present, but they also never become distracting. Colors are natural and stable, never appearing artificially boosted. Perhaps the best news, however, is that there are no traces of problematic degraining corrections. Also, there are no traces of sharpening corrections (additional lab work has not been performed to sharpen up the film). Unsurprisingly, despite the minor flecks and blemishes noted above, from start to finish the film has a pleasing though slightly dated organic look. Finally, there are no serious stability issues to address in this review. All in all, even though there is some room for minor improvements fans of The Sicilian Clan will be pleased with the film's transition to Blu-ray. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no problematic PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).

Le Clan des Siciliens Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are four standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: French DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0, English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0, Italian Dolby Digital 1.0, and German Dolby Digital 1.0. For the record, 20th Century Fox-France has provided optional English, English SDH, Spanish, German, Italian, French (partial) and Traditional Mandarin subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

The lossless French track is excellent. It has terrific depth and a very good range of nuanced dynamics. Needless to say, Ennio Morricone's atmospheric score benefits tremendously from the improved fidelity (see the arrival of Tony Nicosia's man). Balance is also very good. The dialog is crisp, stable, free of problematic background hiss, and very easy to follow. Also, there are absolutely no pops, cracks, or distortions to report in this review. For the record, there are English subtitles for the French dialog as well as the portions of the film where Italian is spoken.

Le Clan des Siciliens Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Note: All of the supplemental features on the Blu-ray are perfectly playable on all North American Blu-ray machines, including the PS3.

Blu-ray

• English Version - original English-language version of the film. With optional French, English, Spanish, German, Italian, and Traditional Mandarin subtitles. (1080p).

• Legend of the Clan - an outstanding new documentary film that focuses on the directing methods of Henri Verneuil, the production history of The Sicilian Clan, and the business climate in France at the time when the film was produced. Included in the film are interviews with assistant director Bernard Stora, producer Jacques-Eric Strauss, Patrick Malakian, son of director Verneuil, reporter Philippe Lombard (Les Grandes gueules du cinema francais), Clelia Ventura, daughter of the Italian actor, and production designer Jacques Saulnier, amongst others. Also included are clips from archival interviews with the French director and Lino Ventura, raw footage from the shooting of the film, and visual comparisons highlighting some of the differences between the English and French-language versions of the film. The documentary was produced by Jerome Wybon. In French, with optional English, Spanish, German, Italian, and Traditional Mandarin subtitles. (64 min, 1080p).

• The Sicilian Clan by Fred Cavaye - director Fred Cavaye (Point Blank) discusses the unique qualities of The Sicilian Clan and mentions an interesting phone call he received from Alain Delon. In French, with optional English, Spanish, German, Italian, and Traditional Mandarin subtitles. (5 min, 480/60i).

• Easter Egg - from the main menu, go to Extras and then use the ► button on your remote. You will highlight a small icon/diamond. From there you will be able to access archival footage from the film's premiere in Marseille featuring short comments by Henri Verneuil, Jean Gabin, and Lino Ventura. In French, with optional English, Spanish, German, Italian, and Traditional Mandarin subtitles. (5 min, 480/60i).

• Booklet - illustrated booklet with notes about the history of the film. In French.

DVD

• Bande-annonce cinema francaise - original French trailer for The Sicilian Clan. In French, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Bande-annonce cinema americane - original U.S. trailer for The Sicilian Clan. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

Le Clan des Siciliens Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It is great to see yet another film by Henri Verneuil transition to Blu-ray. It is also great to see that this new French release of The Sicilian Clan offers optional English subtitles not only for the French version of the film, but for Jerome Wybon's excellent new documentary as well. Hopefully, we will soon see Blu-ray releases of A Kiss for a Killer (Une manche et la belle) with the beautiful Mylene Demongeot and People of No Importance (Des gens sans importance). HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.