A real cool black and white film by Jean-Pierre Melville is Bob le flambeur (1955). Stars Roger Duchesne as Bob Montagné and Isabelle Corey as Bob's young foil Anne. Lots of literary stuff embedded in this, ranging from Melville (the director's WW2 code name) to the ghost of Marcel Proust via Deauville -- site of the big casino Bob wants to knock over.
Bob le flambeur is a sort of godfather of casino capers and the French New Wave / La Nouvelle Vague, while it in turn draws from American film noir.
The character Bob le flambeur is an almost always unflappable, dapper older character who operates within his own civilized code of conduct. He also happens to be a gambling fanatic with a shady past. Anne, on the other hand, is a relative newcomer -- and fast learner.
Plans are laid and modifications made, but can the croupier's wife (played by Colette Fleury) be trusted?
Today's Rune: Signals.
2 comments:
Not sure about this one. Probably not quite my cup of tea. :)
Have you read Bob, the Gambler by Frederick Bathelme. Great book.
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