Subway **** (1985, Christopher Lambert, Isabelle Adjani, Richard Bohringer, Michel Galabru, Jean-Hugues Anglade) – Classic Movie Review 6.887

Co-writer/ director Luc Besson’s impossibly stylish 1985 Paris Métro French thriller film Subway is above all great fun. Christopher Lambert won a César Award as Best Actor.

The one-time Tarzan goes punk as Christopher Lambert (from 1984’s Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes) dyes his hair and puts on a tuxedo as Fred, who pinches McGuffin-style business papers from Héléna (Isabelle Adjani)’s dishonest husband and takes to the infrastructure of the subway system, where a whole race of troglodytes hangs out.

Of course there is no need to take Besson’s thriller at all seriously. Instead, just allow yourself to be swept along by Subway’s verve, dynamism, glorious visuals, movement and humour.

Though Lambert is just right, and Adjani is alluring, the real star is veteran designer Alexandre Trauner’s sets, which look stunning in widescreen. Subway really earns its place as part of the 1980s/ 1990s ‘Cinéma du look’ movement of slick style over substance and gorgeous spectacle over narrative. The pop culture references to Batman are another key feature, with Jean-Pierre Bacri as Inspector Batman and Jean-Claude Lecas as Robin.

It also stars Richard Bohringer, Michel Galabru, Jean-Hugues Anglade as The Roller, Jean Bouise, Jean-Pierre Bacri, Jean Reno and Eric Serra.

Subway is directed by Luc Besson, runs 104 minutes, is made by Gaumont, Les Films du Loup, TSF and TF1, is written by Luc Besson (dialogue and scenario), Alain le Henry, Pierre Jolivet, Sophie Schmit and Marc Perrier, is shot in widescreen and Eastmancolor by Carlo Varini, is scored by Eric Serra, and is designed by Alexandre Trauner.

It was nominated for 13 César Awards in 1986, winning three. Lambert won a César Award as Best Actor, Trauner won for Best Production Design, and there was a third win for Best Sound. Jean-Hugues Anglade was nominated for a César Award for Best Supporting Actor.

It was released on 10 April 1985 (France). It was a huge hit. On a budget of $2.6 million, the box office was $22.3 million.

The English dubbed edited version runs 98 minutes. The English-dubbed version has significant dialogue differences from the French original, though Lambert and Adjani both perform their own English.

Subway was part filmed in the Paris Métro and Paris RER, but also on sets designed by Alexandre Trauner. The opening car chase scene accesses the 1971 The French Connection, and the film’s ending accesses the one in the 1960 Breathless.

Jean-Hugues Anglade (born 29 July 1955) is known for The Wounded Man, Subway, Killing Zoe, La Reine Margot, Nelly and M Arnaud. Betty Blue and Nikita.

The key figures of the ‘Cinéma du look‘ are Luc Besson, Jean-Jacques Beineix and Leos Carax and their films Diva (1981), The Moon in the Gutter (1983) and 37°2 le matin [Betty Blue] (1986); Subway (1985), Le Grand bleu [The Big Blue] (1988), Nikita (1990), Leon: The Professional (1994); and Boy Meets Girl (1984), Mauvais Sang (1986) and Les Amants du Pont-Neuf (1991).

The cast are Isabelle Adjani as Héléna Kerman, Christopher Lambert [Christophe Lambert]  as Fred, Richard Bohringer as The Florist, Michel Galabru as Commissioner Gesberg, Jean-Hugues Anglade as The Roller, Jean Bouise as The Station Master, Jean-Pierre Bacri as Inspector Batman, Jean-Claude Lecas as Robin, Pierre-Ange Le Pogam as Jean, Jean Reno as The Drummer, Éric Serra as Enrico (bassist), and Arthur Simms as Paul (singer).

Isabelle Adjani (born 27 June 1955) is the only performer to win five César Awards for acting—all in the Best Actress category.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6,887

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