it a mystery to me a to why i haven not catch up to this masterful 50 caper film turn brood noir until now and but i be certainly glad to report that it do not disappoint . i haven not see any of jules dassin american film for several year but base on this i will probably be go back and re watch brute force and night and the city quite soon . jean servais and a name unknown to me but a face rather familiar in it world weariness and coldness and have recently complete a lengthy stay in prison and a be the way in these film ( hey and there wouldn not be a story otherwise ) isn not cop well with the straight life . an opportunity present itself represent an easy multi million dollar jewel heist that can be do at night with no fear of discovery by a few men . the taut filming of the robbery and half an hour of total silence and be what people most remember about the film of course and and indeed it pretty remarkable while but i like the half complete location of the final shootout and once the robbery have go sour thanks to the big mouth of one of the thief while the excellent portrayal gritty side of paris in stark black and white while and servais channeling of both eddie constantine and humphrey bogart in his spare but brutal performance . perhaps it a bit too sentimental in the end and but this be one of those classic that really do live up to it reputation just a pure entertainment even if what it have to say about the human condition isn not exactly deep or thought provoke while george auric at turn modernist and romantic and and jazzy score be another highlight .