A forgotten gem, Classe Tous Risques is a densely packed crime noir starring Lino Ventura as a ruthless gangster who is also a sensitive family man (40 years before Tony Soprano), fleeing the authorities from Milan to Paris. Jean-Paul Belmondo, early in his career, shows up 40 minutes into the movie as Ventura’s mob-assigned accomplice, and wisely doesn’t attempt to steal the film from the formidable star. First time director Claude Sautet brings an amazingly assured hand to this multi-level drama, and the black and white location photography is stunning.
Tags: Classe Tous Risques, Claude Sautet, film noir, French Cinema, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Lino Ventura
