Once a Thief *** (1965, Alain Delon, Ann-Margret, Van Heflin, Jack Palance) – Classic Movie Review 8252

Director Ralph Nelson’s 1965 black and white crime thriller Once a Thief [Les Tueurs de San Francisco] stars French superstar Alain Delon, who tries to make it in Hollywood as San Francisco ex-con Eddie Pedak, an ex-thief who wants to go straight but is dragged back into the criminal life by his brother Walter (Jack Palance), who needs him for one last heist.

The strong line-up includes Van Heflin as the dogged local cop Inspector Mike Vido on his trail (shades of Les Misérables), Jack Palance, John Davis Chandler and Tony Musante as the bad guys, Jeff Corey as Lieutenant Kebner SFPD, and Ann-Margret as Delon’s distraught wife Kristine. The police Inspector believes Eddie shot him and is pursuing a personal vendetta.

All this is well plotted, decently acted and orchestrated with lots of action, some style and a sparkling surface sheen by director Nelson.

Zekial Marko scripts from his novel Scratch a Thief and gives himself a part in the film too, as Luke, though he is dubbed by Paul Frees.

Once a Thief [Les Tueurs de San Francisco] is directed by Ralph Nelson, runs 106 minutes, is made by Compagnie Internationale de Productions Cinématographiques (CIPRA), Renne and Nelson, is released by MGM, is written by Zekial Marko, is shot in black and white by Robert Burks, is produced by Fred Engel, Jacques Bar and Ralph Nelson, and is scored by Lalo Schifrin.

It went out in a double bill with The Secret of My Success, with James Booth.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8252

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