''The Upper Hand'' (''Du rififi à Paname'') is a 1966 French thriller film about gold smuggling based on the novel by

Auguste Le Breton Auguste Le Breton (born Auguste Monfort 18 February 1913 – 31 May 1999) was a French novelist who wrote primarily about the criminal underworld. His novels were adapted into several notable films of the 1950s, such as ''Rififi'', ''Razzia su ...

and starring

Jean Gabin Jean Gabin (; 17 May 190415 November 1976) was a French actor and singer. Considered a key figure in French cinema, he starred in several classic films including ''Pépé le Moko'' (1937), '' La grande illusion'' (1937), ''Le Quai des brumes'' ...

, George Raft and Gert Fröbe.

Plot

Paul Berger, known as Paulo les diams, is a smuggler who works with his old friend Walter, an antique dealer married to Irene. Paulo recruits his smugglers from a nightclub with the help of his employees Rene and Lili. They recruit a man called Mike Coppolano to smuggle, not knowing he is an American secret agent who has gone undercover. Mike is hired as Paulo's bodyguard after saving Paulo's life in a shoot out. Gangster Giulio kidnaps Irene, and Mike shoots Giulio. Walter is killed and Paulo swears to avenge him. Mafia gangster Binnagio insists Paulo and Mario get along. Mike steals a notebook in which Walter wrote down the flow chart of the arms trade. Paulo sets off a bomb in the middle of a meeting with the mafia. Paulo and the survivors of the bomb are arrested.

Cast

... Paul Berger * Gert Fröbe ... Walter * George Raft ... Charles Binnaggio * Nadja Tiller ... Irène *

Claudio Brook Claudio Brook (born Claude Sydney Brook Marnat, 28 August 1927 – 18 October 1995) was a Mexican actor. Life Born in Mexico City, Brook had a prolific career, making around 100 film and television appearances in his 38 years as an actor. ...

... Mike Coppolano *

Mireille Darc Mireille Darc (; 15 May 1938 – 28 August 2017) was a French model and actress. She appeared as a lead character in Jean-Luc Godard's 1967 film '' Weekend''. Darc was a Knight of the Legion of Honour and Commander of the National Order of Me ...

... Lili Princesse *

Marcel Bozzuffi Marcel Bozzuffi (28 October 19291 February 1988) was a French film actor. He appeared as a hitman in the Oscar-winning American film '' The French Connection''. In 1963, he married French actress Françoise Fabian. Selected filmography *1955: ...

... Marque Mal *

Claude Brasseur Claude Brasseur (15 June 1936 – 22 December 2020) was a French actor. Life and career Claude Brasseur was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine as Claude Pierre Espinasse, the son of actor Pierre Brasseur and actress Odette Joyeux. He was the godson of E ...

... Giulio *

Daniel Ceccaldi Daniel Ceccaldi (25 July 1927 – 27 March 2003) was a French actor. He was born in Meaux, Seine-et-Marne, France. The mild-mannered Daniel Ceccaldi is famous as Claude Jade's father ''Lucien Darbon'' in François Truffaut's movies ''Stolen Kis ...

... Commissaire Noël

Production

Producer Maurice Jaquin made the film following the success of '' Tonnerre de Dieu''. It as heavily influenced by the current popularity of James Bond and oSS 117 films. The actual star of the movie was Claudio Brook, a Mexican actor who had worked with Luis Buñuel. The filmmakers hoped for an international audience and cast several non French actors including Gert Froebe and George Raft.

Reception

The ''New York Times'' called it "meandering, stilted and extremely flat melodrama" which "spurts to life towards the end" when Gabin meets George Raft and "the two men lock eyeballs like two king cobras" with "a chilling authenticity".Screen: 'Luv,' Broadway Hit, Begins New Film Life: 3 Other Offerings on View Around City Comedy Is Presented at Coronet and De Mille By BOSLEY CROWTHER. New York Times ]27 July 1967: 29. The film was a moderate success at the French box office.

The Belgrade terrorist attack

On July 13, 1968, during the projection of ''The Upper Hand'' in the "20. oktobar" cinema in Belgrade,

Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југославија ;; rup, Iugoslavia; hu, Jugoszlávia; rue, label=Pannonian Rusyn, Югославия, translit=Juhoslavija ...

, a bomb was detonated, killing one person and injuring 89. Croatian Miljenko Hrkać has been convicted of the attack and sentenced to death.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Upper Hand 1966 films 1960s crime thriller films French crime thriller films French gangster films Films about organized crime in France Films based on works by Auguste Le Breton Films directed by Denys de La Patellière 1960s French films