Borsalino and Co. (1974)

Set in Marseilles in the mid 1930, Borsalino and Co. is the sequel to the successful Borsalino. I haven't seen the first, but I hope that I will be able to soon, as finally the DVD was released today. The sequel was not as victorious as its original in the box office, perhaps because the absence of Jean-Paul Belmondo.

The movie starts with the funeral of François Capella (Belmondo), ex-partner and friend of Roch Siffredi (Alain Delon). Knowing that one of the Volpone brothers (both played by Riccardo Cucciolla) is responsible for Capella's death, Siffredi has him murdered. It's a wrong step because the other Volpone is a very powerful international merchant and he loves his brother very much. The war between Siffredi and Volpone begins. Siffredi's business is ruined, he himself is humiliated, and sent to an asylum. His loyal sidekick Fernand (Lionel Vitrant) patiently waits until the time comes when he helps his boss to get out from the asylum and from France. Three years in Genoa, Siffredi gathers his strength and prepares himself for revenge. Meanwhile, Volpone has become more powerful than ever, especially after his only rival is gone. Even the honest Inspector Fanti (Daniel Ivernel) has been replaced with Volpone's man: Inspector Cazenave (André Falcon). However, Volpone underestimates Siffredi and hasn't thought that his old rival would dare to launch the attack on him.

One of the movie's plus sides is its memorable soundtrack by Claude Bolling. The set is wonderful and I like the colour which uses much cream and brown. There are lots of violent scenes here. The torture of Sam and Casenave, for example. The same kind of torture was taken out from Jean-Pierre Melville's Le deuxième souffle 8 years before and never been put back. The scene of Siffredi throwing the gun to Sam's face makes me laugh, though. Both Volpone brothers die on the train. I think Siffredi has learnt from the first murder that it's best to get rid of the body so that the police will never find it, so he perfects it in the 2nd.

The relationship between Siffredi and Lola (Catherine Rouvel) doesn't change much in the movie. I don't really know what happened among Siffredi, Lola and Capella in the previous movie, but my guess is Siffredi holds back to respect Capella's memory. However, he takes Lola to America with him. After the movie ends, 'To Be Continued' is written on screen. Did Delon plan to make another sequel, perhaps the story of how Siffredi starts his new life in America?