StudioCanal will add to its Blu-ray catalog three classic films directed by Jacques Becker:
Le Trou (1960),
Edward and Caroline (1951), and
Touchez Pas au Grisbi (1954).
Le Trou
Synopsis: Influential director Jacques Becker's final film, Le Trou is also amongst his very best. Hailed as a masterpiece by Truffaut, it remains a compelling work, superbly directed and photographed with a remarkable attention to detail. 1947. A young man, Gaspard Claude (Marc Michel), is convicted for the attempted murder of his wife, although he is innocent of the crime. He is sent to the notorious Santé Prison in Paris and is placed in a cell with four hardened criminals. The latter have decided to escape from the prison by digging their way out of their cell. Reluctantly, they take Gaspard into their confidence and labour digging their way out of their cell. Then, just when escape appears certain, Gaspard is called away to see the prison governor…
NEW RESTORATION.
STREET DATE: JUNE 5.
Edward And Caroline
Synopsis: Becker's dark, offbeat comedy about a failing marriage stars Daniel Gélin as Édouard, a poor pianist married to Caroline (Anne Vernon), a beautiful girl from a middle-class family. Caroline's uncle Claude (Jean Galland), a complete snob who looks down on Édouard like the rest of his family, invites the couple to a party at which he is expected to play for his supper in front of Claude's important friends. Add the fact that Claude's son Alain (Jacques Francois) is in love with Caroline and this evening is destined for disaster.
NEW RESTORATION.
STREET DATE: MAY 1.
Touchez Pas au Grisbi
Synopsis: Jacques Becker's Touchez Pas au Grisbi occupies a significant part in French cinema history. Max (Jean Gabin, La Grande Illusion) and Riton (René Dary) are two ageing gangsters who manage to pull off their final heist, a spectacular gold bullion robbery at Orly airport. All is well until Max's former girlfriend Josy (Jeanne Moreau, Jules et Jim) tips off a rival gangster, Angelo (Lino Ventura). The latter kidnaps Ritton and threatens to kill him unless Max hands over the spoils from his robbery… Helping to birth the French policier, a European transposition of the fantastic American gangster films of the 1940s, Touchez Pas au Grisbi exerted a huge influence on subsequent directors such as Jean-Pierre Melville.
NEW RESTORATION.
STREET DATE: MAY 1.