- There is a genuinely startling moment near the beginning of the heist scene in Le Deuxieme Souffle (Second Breath) when the criminals are suddenly shown wearing masks. Now that I'm finished watching the film, that doesn't sound like it should have been startling at all. In fact, wearing masks during a heist is rather standard practice, not to mention being an obvious good idea. I reviewed the scene after the film had ended to see if the masks were especially scary, which of course they weren't. Actually, they were rather clinical in appearance, but the film had established such a strong atmosphere of anticipation that even this rather minor revelation really thrilled me. That's director Jean-Pierre Melville at his best.
- As is often the case with Melville, the first eight minutes of the film are completely dialogue-free as we watch Gustave "Gu" Minda (Lino Ventura) silently escape from prison. Initially, it is unclear how his story relates to a killing ordered by nightclub manager Paul Ricci (Raymond Pellegrin) and witnessed by the elegant Manouche (Christine Fabrega) and her stoic bodyguard Alban (Michel Constantin). Fortunately, the supremely confident Police Commissaire Blot (Paul Meurisse) seems accustomed to such tangled situations as he amusingly provides reluctant witnesses with their excuses before they can invent them. Finally, Gu intersects the main story when he sneaks into the home of Manouche to take out two blackmailers who have been sent by Paul Ricci's brother, Jo (Marcel Bozzuffi). Did I mention that Manouche is also Gu's sister? Thankfully, I took good notes.
- While Gu tries to maintain a low profile, he is tempted to take revenge upon the disreputable Jo Ricci for trying to blackmail his sister. In an suspenseful scene, he decides at the last minute to steer clear of Jo because the situation "didn't feel right." Of course, the clever Blot was waiting to apprehend Gu, and the detective is forced to reconsider his strategy. Ultimately, however, Gu is forced to come out of hiding to find money to finance his escape from France. At the anonymous urging of the mysterious Orloff (Pierre Zimmer), Gu joins up with Paul Ricci and his thugs, the cool Pascal (Pierre Grasset) and hot-headed Antoine (Denis Manuel), for one last job. The heist itself is a marvel of controlled suspense, initially kept so quiet that you can hear the wind blowing before the distant echo of motorcycles announces that their quarry approaches.
- Although the heist goes off as planned, Gu makes the mistake of underestimating the unscrupulous Commissaire Blot. In an astonishing ruse set in what must be the bleakest, muddiest place in France, Blot tricks Gu (who, like most Melville characters, is normally "not much of a talker") into implicating Paul Ricci. But wait, isn't it illegal for the police to disguise themselves as a pack of gangsters? "Everything's legal," replies Blot. The police inspector Fardiano (Paul Frankeur) takes this philosophy one step further, torturing both Gu and Paul in an attempt to wring out confessions. Just as there are different levels of honor amongst thieves, so too in the police force. When Gu finally does escape, he gives Fardiano the one confession he doesn't want before heading to a final confrontation with Jo Ricci, who wants Gu dead. Just as the film's opening quote predicted, Gu has the opportunity to "choose his own death," and he memorably chooses to take a lot of less honorable people down with him.
- With its multitude of striking characters, outstanding plot, and wonderful direction, it's surprising that Le Deuxieme Souffle isn't a more well-recognized film. Or rather, it would have been surprising if it had happened to any director besides Melville. Since the 37-year-tardy release of the phenomenal Army of Shadows, I've come to accept that his body of work will only slowly trickle into public consciousness. Until then, I suppose I must keep his fantastic world of trenchcoated gangsters, vibraphone music, and meticulously planned heists to myself. Things could be worse.
- This was based on the novel Un reglement de comptes.
