Tag Archives: Robert Bresson

Best French Suspense Thrillers of all time (10+1list)

Best French Suspense Thrillers of all time

written by Souranath Banerjee

Best French Suspense Thrillers of all time – and that includes the classics, the definitives, the masterpieces and only the immortals of French cinema that simply refuse to fade away with time!

They are edgy, classy and full of intense drama; the plots twist and the tension builds up, till the suspense is revealed. All internationally acclaimed cinemas made by some of the most famous French directors of the time.

Hold on to your seats folks, let the fun begin!

10. This Man Must Die (1969)

Que la bête meure (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImsAaCwoG0g

French-Suspense-ThrillersOne of the best from French director Claude Chabrol where a father is obsessed with revenge as he recently lost her daughter in a hit-and-run accident. But then, unfortunately he gets too involved with the lives of the culprits!

A complicated and intense portrayal of human nature with brilliant performances.

A few other thrillers from the same director are La Cérémonie (1995), Le Boucher (1970) and Violette (1978).

9. Diva (1981)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS2t2Noglac

French-Suspense-ThrillersDirected by Jean-Jacques Beineix, this is the story of a handful of characters – an opera fan, a thief, a cop, a couple of hit men and a philosopher, all entangled in a murder plot that they cannot escape from.

A visually stunning thriller with some brilliant chasing sequences that needs much more attention from film buffs all across the world.

8. Le Jour se Leve (1939)

Le jour se lève (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlLqSYt3EdM

French-Suspense-ThrillersA man commits a murder and locks himself up in his apartment, going through his head the events that led him into the terrible crime in the first place.

Shot beautifully in black and white, directed by Marcel Carnéone of the pioneers of Poetic realism film movement of the 1930s, this is undoubtedly one of his best work.

7. Purple Noon (1960)

Plein soleil (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWnvLNTzt-k

French-Suspense-ThrillersHave you seen The Talented Mr. Ripley starring Matt Damon and Jude Law?

Well, this film is the first adaptation from the same novel written by Patricia Highsmith, brilliantly directed by René Clément.

Enigmatic Alain Delon portrays the role of the versatile Mr.Ripley and his performance is outstanding!

6. Eyes Without a Face (1960)

Les yeux sans visage (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEjrg-L8lvs

French-Suspense-ThrillersA talented surgeon wants to give her disfigured daughter a new face but his methods of attempting face transplantation are rather unconventional, I mean it involves things like kidnapping and murder!

Directed by Georges Franju, this is one brilliant emotional thriller that evokes a haunting effect, more like an unforgettable nightmare!

5. Shoot the Piano Player (1960)

Tirez sur le pianiste (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjd6Eg9APAs

French-Suspense-ThrillersA classic thriller, the second feature directed by acclaimed auteur François Truffaut.

A piano player who gets mixed up in some dangerous business and now his life is in danger!

The film though not very commercially successful when released, is considered far ahead of its time by many critics and has a huge cult following over the years, a must watch!

4. Elevator to the Gallows (1958)

Ascenseur pour l’échafaud (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euB6PWW6tcI

French-Suspense-ThrillersA calculated murder, a mistress and then misfortune! Does the concept of perfect murder exists in real? No matter how much planning and precaution one takes there always remains the factor of ‘unpredictability’!

Directed by renowned Louis Malle, this one is a superb thriller that takes it slow and yet very engaging with the many twists and turns that keeps you guessing till the end.

3. Rififi (1955)

Du rififi chez les hommes (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVRiC5ysSLk

French-Suspense-ThrillersA spectacular tale of a group of jewel thieves who carefully plan out their next heist and execute it with enough precision – but can they pull it off till the end without any glitch?

The level of suspense in the film is absolutely intense and almost romantically dangerous. Directed by Jules Dassin, he won the best director for this one at the Cannes Film Festival that year!

2. Le Samouraï (1967)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmWt0l7hX8k

French-Suspense-ThrillersA professional hitman, a cool perfectionist gets into trouble as he’s seen by witnesses while committing a murder. But then he wants to prove his alibi and the real trouble begins!

With Alain Delon playing the sleek hitman and the master of French Suspense Thriller Jean-Pierre Melville as the director, this one is definitely the coolest films in this list.

A few other thrillers from the same director are Bob le Flambeur (1956), Le Doulos (1962), Army of Shadows (1969) and Le Cercle Rouge (1970).

1. Diabolique (1955)

Les diaboliques (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzbGtjtfZwA

French-Suspense-ThrillersThe wife and the mistress plans to murder a sadistic man and succeeds, but then the two women doesn’t have much chance of relief as they are rattled by some strange events!

Directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, a cult classic cult, undoubtedly the best French suspense thriller with a superb plot and certainly the best twist in the tale!

A few other thrillers from the same director are The Wages of Fear (1953) and Le Corbeau (1943).

and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch).

+1. Pickpocket (1959)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCZhSPwIZEg

French-Suspense-ThrillersThe story of a man whose hobby/profession is to pick pockets; a thief, but then also an independent man who wants to express himself through an unusually dangerous profession!

Directed by Robert Bresson and brilliantly performed by Martin LaSalle, technically a classic crime drama but then, it scores much above than most of its so called contemporary French Suspense Thrillers!  

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BEST PRISON ESCAPE MOVIES EVER MADE (10+1LIST)

Best prison escape movies ever made.

written by Sriram Sundar

Prison films are generally classified into two categories: the first type is the escape-drama where the jailbirds desperately attempts to break away from high security prisons, and the second category is more focused on the life inside the prison walls.

Now these Jailbreak movies are spiked with high dozes of suspense and tension; and most often you start sympathising with the convict and his desperate attempts for freedom – but then can he succeed in his attempt to break free or remain trapped in the system?

Well, let’s check out the fate of the prisoner in some of these Best prison escape movies ever made.

10. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hB3S9bIaco

Covering a period from 1946 to 1967, Shawshank focuses on the plight of a Maine banker, Andy Dufresne who sentenced to two life terms for the murder of his wife and lover.

Directed by Frank Darabont, this film was also nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Morgan Freeman as Ellis Redding, the veteran inmate of Shawshank State Prison who takes Tim Robbins (Andy Dufresne) under his wing. The greatest movie ever made..! Period.

9. Papillon (1973)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW_IWHw3z-U

Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, this  movie is based on a book by the same name authored by Henri Charriere, a former convict and fugitive from Devil’s Island and though the work is fiction, the background is entirely based on real events.

Papillon  (Steve McQueen) is charged with a crime he hasn’t committed, and Luis Dega (Dustin Hoffman), a fraud banker is convicted on counterfeit charges. Bound by mutual necessity, they soon become friends during their journey to Devil’s Island.

8. Escape from Alcatraz (1979)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSS0fH9zzFY

Directed by Don Siegel, this film is a little slow and doesn’t move in a breakneck pace but still, it is listed as a “classic” on most movie review sites,

Clint Eastwood strolled through this movie naturally as Frank Morris, a soft spoken, solitary prisoner who was destined to escape Alcatraz. Been rated PG (“parental guidance suggested”) as it includes some explicit violence, bloodshed and obscene language.

7. Anything for Her (2008)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBZVsLoSsDU

Police burst into the house of happily married schoolteacher Julien (Vincent Lindon) and arrest his wife, Lisa (Diane Kruger) on suspicion of murdering her female boss. She’s given a 20-year sentence and he’s left to raise their small son.  As time passes, diabetic Lisa stops taking her insulin in an attempted suicide and Lucien feels that time is running out to keep his family together. He goes about meticulously planning her escape – but how does one go about breaking someone out of prison?

Directed by Fred Cavayé, it is a fast-paced and engrossing thriller that gained a nomination for Best First Work at the César Awards in 2009.

6. The Great Escape (1963)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkwmIDx9RwQ

This movie tells the story of a group of prisoners of war who try to escape from a Nazi POW camp during World War II, with the help of a meticulous and ingenious plan. Steve McQueen epitomizes the attitude with his frequent shenanigans.

Directed by John Sturges, “The Great Escape” is regarded as one of the greatest WWII films ever. The movie starts  with the signature theme tune that is heard around many football grounds even today.

5. The Hole (1960)

Le trou (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK7fZrSC6VA

Five prisoners housed in a French prison during the late 1940s awaiting sentence break through their cell floor, enter the insides of the prison, and get to the sewer system from where they can break into the regular sewage setup and finally freedom. But the best-laid plans are foiled by a newcomer who turns them in.

Sadly, this was Director Jacques Becker‘s last film – he died just a few weeks after filming on Le Trou had been completed.

4. Stalag 17 (1953)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T86RDFgzC5U

Directed by Billy WilderStalag 17 begins with two prisoners from the barrack who, after careful planning with the rest of inmates try to escape the camp but are discovered & shot down. It is  a light-hearted thriller drama that makes you laugh all along.

All eyes fall on Sgt. Sefton (William Holden) who frequently makes exchanges with German guards for small luxuries. To protect himself from a mob of his enraged fellow inmates, Sgt. Sefton resolves to find the true traitor within their midst.

3. La Grande Illusion (1937)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hctrYzVYmfM

Director Jean Renoir tells us the story of a group of French soldiers who are held captive in prisoner of war camps during the First World War, the war that was to end all wars.

Lieutenant Marechal (Jean Gabin) is a pilot and blue collar guy while Captain de Boldieu is an aristocrat. They are shot down by Captain von Rauffenstein, a German aristocrat, while flying a reconnaissance mission. This movie received an Oscar nomination for best motion picture of the year.

2. Midnight Express (1978)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buDEEC7tKv4

‘Midnight Express’ takes you into a world where the only thing that can keep you alive in this horrible real world is bravery.  This film also won two Oscars; ‘Best Music, Original Score’ and ‘Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.

Directed by Alan Parker, it is the true story of Billy Hayes (Brad Davis), an American tourist who gets caught trying to smuggle several kilos of hashish out of the country.

1. A Man Escaped (1956)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6nHFpKK6Lc

“When one is in prison, the most important thing is the door.”
– Robert Bresson

Based on the memoirs of André Devigny, who escaped from Fort Montlucin Lyonin 1943, during World War II, ‘A Man Escaped’ tells the story of Fontaine (François Leterrier), a member of the French Resistance who is imprisoned by the Nazis in Montluc prison after an unsuccessful escape attempt.

Director Robert Bressons masterpiece is still a pinnacle in French cinema.

and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch.

+1. I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QvF2FZZftY

For director Mervyn LeRoy, with a career that spanned more than three decades, ‘I am a Fugitive from a Chain’ Gang represented one of his first major successes.

James Allen (Paul Muni) is wrongfully convicted of a crime and is sent to work in a chain gang where he first encounters this living hell. He spends years of being treated like an animal by the inhumane prison system. But he waits, biding his time for the perfect moment to make a break for freedom.