Les Félins (1964)

An American mafia group is looking for French playboy Marc (Alain Delon) for having seduced their boss's wife. They catch him in Paris, but as they don't kill him on the spot and want to torture him first, Marc escapes, finds a shelter in a church and is hired by a rich widow Barbara (Lola Albright), who lives in a big mansion in Côte d'Azur with her niece Melinda (Jane Fonda), to be her chauffeur. Soon Marc will find that he escapes the crocodile's mouth only to enter the lion's den.

This movie has easily become one of my favourites. After the first seeing, I felt like having watched a Hitchcock movie, but Hitchcock movies never made me giggle that much. The new region 1 DVD from Koch Lorber, released only this August, contains both English and France dubbing (with optional English subtitles). Delon's voice in the French dub is very heavy and deep, different from usual, but the same like in Diaboliquement vôtre. The French version is also longer about 2:15 minutes. The running time for the French version is 1:37:00 while the English is only 1:34:45. After watching both versions, I found that in the English version, the scene where Barbara interviews Marc for the job is cut off. The scene ends right after she asks him if he likes to travel. In the French version, the scene continues with Barbara mentions America, but of course Marc won't go there for his head is wanted by the mafia. Then Marc shows Barbara some card tricks, and goes on with a discussion on the salary and that he gets one day off per week. There is also a hint that the interview takes place on May 30th. One important point in this scene is that Barbara refuses to return his passport.


The dialogues in both versions are a bit different. Examples: (for the French part I write the English subs)

Barbara [English] I don't expect an English butler, but at least you could get out and open the door.
Barbara [French] I know that you don't have much class, but you could still get out and open the door.

Melinda [English] It's amazing how you drive!
Melinda [French] Your driving method is hilarious!

The DVD also has the French trailer, but in my opinion, if you have Delon, Fonda, René Clément, Pascal Jardin, and Henri Decae in one movie, a trailer is not needed to promote it. The soundtrack by Lalo Schifrin which is dominated by bass riff gives more life to this wonderful thriller.