Le Trou [The Hole] **** (1960, Philippe Leroy, Marc Michel, André Bervil, Jean Keraudy, Michel Constantin) – Classic Movie Review 8668

Director Jacques Becker’s gritty 1960 French crime thriller / drama Le Trou [The Hole] tells a grim but gripping and intelligent escape story, based on a novel by José Giovanni but taken from real life, about the uncertain relationship between four long-term prisoners and a fifth new inmate who plan to tunnel their way out through the prison vaults.

The austere camera style of Ghislain Cloquet’s black and white cinematography suits the meticulously detailed account of the brutality of prison life and its effect on the individual’s psyche. The largely amateur actors do a good job and are convincing, while Becker keeps it ultra-tense and involving, without using a music score.

The main cast are Philippe Leroy, Marc Michel, Jean Kéraudy, Michel Constantine, Raymond Meunier, Catherine Spaak, André Bervil, Jean-Paul Coquelin, Gérard Hernandez, Eddy Rasimi and Dominique Zardi.

It was restored to its full length of 131 minutes in 1984.

Le Trou [The Hole] is written by Jacques Becker (adaptation and dialogue), José Giovanni
(adaptation and dialogue) and Jean Aurel (adaptation).

Becker died on 21 February 1960, aged 53, just two weeks after finishing the film. He is remembered for Goupi Mains Rouges, Antoine and Antoinette, Edouard et Caroline, Rendezvous in July, Casque d’Or, Touchez Pas au Grisbi and Montparnasse 19.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8668

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