Introduction"Borsalino" is a 1970 Franco-Italian gangster film directed by Jacques Deray, starring Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo. The film was based upon the novel "Bandits à Marseille" by Eugène Saccomano and was influenced by the real-life French gangsters Paul Carbone and François Spirito. Embed in the 1930s, "Borsalino" tells the story of 2 small-time crooks who rise to power in the Marseille underworld. The movie was a vital and commercial success in Europe, and its stylish representation of gangsters assisted to promote the "Borsalino" fedora hat that both lead characters wore throughout the movie.
Plot SummaryThe movie opens with the introduction of Siffredi (Alain Delon), a small-time crook, and Capella (Jean-Paul Belmondo), a recently launched found guilty. The 2 guys fulfill in Marseille, and after an initial misconception and fistfight, they choose to join forces and form a criminal alliance. They start their careers as robbers, but quickly escalate to more violent criminal activities.
In a quote to establish themselves in the local criminal underworld, they enter into conflict with the established crime employers, including the powerful Poli (Michel Bouquet) and Spada (François Périer), a rich bar owner who takes a taste to Siffredi. The two guys also discover love on their increase to power: Siffredi with the lovely Lola (Catherine Rouvel) and Capella with a young dancer called Simone (Corinne Marchand).
As Siffredi and Capella's criminal activities end up being more audacious and their track record grows, they catch the attention of the effective Orsini brothers, who control prostitution, drugs, and unlawful gambling in Marseille. Siffredi and Capella choose to muscle into the Orsini's area, resulting in a series of violent conflicts. Ultimately, they are successful in removing the Orsini bros and take control of the city's criminal operations.
Meanwhile, Siffredi's ambition starts to grow beyond Marseille, and he aims to produce a criminal empire covering throughout all of France by forging an alliance with all of the country's crime employers. This relocation draws the attention of the authorities, and the police begin a project to punish organized criminal activity.
Conclusion and Legacy"Borsalino" ends with a dramatic twist: a disillusioned Capella, tired of the violence and betrayal that features their lifestyle, chooses to quit the criminal life, leading to a rift in between the 2 good friends. In a final fight, Siffredi inadvertently kills Capella in a shootout, leaving him alone at the top of the Marseille underworld, however at a fantastic individual expense.
"Borsalino" was a major success both in France and globally. The film was applauded for its stylish representation of the gangster way of life, with both Delon and Belmondo providing charismatic performances. The movie brought in global attention, and the renowned "Borsalino" hat used by the leads ended up being a sign of trendy gangster fashion.
The movie's success caused a follow up, "Borsalino & Co.", in 1974, which included Delon reprising his function as Siffredi. However, the follow up failed to regain the magic of the initial and was met lukewarm reviews. Nonetheless, "Borsalino" remains a traditional piece of European cinema and a benchmark in the gangster genre. Its impact can be seen in later elegant crime movies, such as "The Untouchables", "Once Upon a Time in America", and "Pulp Fiction."
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