(1968/FRANCE/ITALY)
AKA: HONOR AMONG THIEVES, ADIEU L’AMI
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-JEAN HERMAN CAST-ALAIN DELON, CHARLES BRONSON, OLGA GEORGES-PICOT, BRIGITTE FOSSEY, BERNARD FRESSON, ELLEN BAHL and MICHEL BARCET. SOURCE-CINEMA CLUB DVD (UK PAL REGION 2) 2005
After returning from the war in Algeria, Dino (Alain Delon) a doctor and Frank (Charles Bronson) a mercenary leave the French Foreign Legion their separate ways. After hooking up with a woman, Dino decides to help her return bonds to a safe in her place of employment. He gets a job as the resident doctor, where he office is located beside the vault in the basement. After days of planning the gig, Dino sets it into motion. Sneaking into the building and down into the basement, just as he’s about to get things rolling, Frank mysteriously shows up for the action. Though Frank has ideas of stealing the 2 million in the vault, Dino sticks to his plan of just returning the bonds and getting out of there. Working with only three of the possible seven digits to the safe’s combination, they spend hours figuring out the right combination. After hours of sharing duty on the lock they finally figure it out only to find the money isn’t there. Quickly scrambling to avoid the security watch, they accidently lock themselves inside the vault. It is then they figure out that they have been had, but by who and why?
When you have the chance to catch both Alain Delon and Charles Bronson in the same film, there is simply no missing it. Both actors have solid careers to back this up, especially when given that FAREWELL FRIEND being a crime film. Right away tons of films echo when these two are mentioned, TONY ARZENTA: BIG GUNS, DEATH WISH, 10 To MIDNIGHT, THE RED CIRCLE and many more. Of course I have seen these two together in Terence Young’s RED SUN, both playing off each other with complete precision. Of course the subject matter was a little bit different, still pretty much in the same vein as FAREWELL. So, going into FAREWELL I know I would automatically enjoy their performances. That was certainly underestimation for sure, their performances were pretty much flawless, especially Bronson. I would almost go as far as to say it was probably his best on record, but hey that’s my opinion.
Still Delon was surely not far behind with his great performance either. Together they displayed a wide range of different areas of method, everything from in your face rawness to humor that only a true crime fan would love. This of course helped if not carried the well balanced storyline and pacing of FAREWELL. It’s a shame that these two talented actors didn’t do more together as they truly give off great combined presence. I must involve the women involved in this film as well, both Olga Georges-Picot who plays Isabelle, the women in which involves and eventually sets up Dino (Delon). She is absolutely wonderful in this role. As is Brigitte Fossey who plays Dominique, Isabelle’s younger sister. Both women are truly deadly, but not at first glance. This is the kicker as this element of surprise certainly throws the best of us off.
Hey, one thing is for sure, in order to hand actors of this stature, you need a good enough director to be able to handle them with finesse. Jean Herman certainly fits that mold like a glove indeed. Not having to direct too many films, Herman really displays his abilities not only in handling both Delon and Bronson, but also given us a bird eye view of his talents as well. Slick style indeed, given the nature of the storyline of FAREWELL. Most of the film being trapped in a vault for hours, one could easily say any director could have pulled this off. Wrong, not only did Herman pull it off right, but he adds so much more to the mix.
The code "Honor Among Thieves" is truly put to the test between Bronson and Delon as the two of them sweat it out not only in a battle of muscle but of wills as well. Two opposites come out of that vault with one understanding, knowing how to stick together even under the toughest of circumstances. Not to fray away from the director’s involvement in this, as it is truly a work of art in this case. Everything from the lighting to transitions, all of which make FAREWELL work on all levels. This vault scene is the key or pinnacle of the whole story as it develops every important aspect the story relies on. This film doesn’t rely on fast car chases or gun brawls but in you’re face solid story telling. That and the right acting to go with it. Although there's a pretty entertaining chase scene in an airport that incorporates some fisticuffs.
The Cinema Club DVD release of this film under the FAREWELL FRIEND title is pretty much barebones. Giving us just the feature, they at least they don’t sell us short on that. Presented in a 16X9 anamorphic wide-screen, the picture is pretty good. The audio is in an English Dolby Digital mono, which again isn’t the best, but it isn’t bad either. It’s certainly a step up from the Essex Entertainment region 1 release under the US title of HONOR AMONG THIEVES which is presented in a 1.33:1 pan and scan. For right now, this is surely the right choice if you enjoy this film or would like to see it.
STORY/FILM-3.5 BITCH SLAPS PICTURE-3 BITCH SLAPS AUDIO-2.5 BITCH SLAPS EXTRAS-0 BITCH SLAPS OVERALL DVD-2.5 BITCH SLAPS To Purchase this DVD, visit X-Ploited Cinema
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