On my last trip to Germany, I was amazed to pick up the brand new Blu-ray release of a favourite film of mine, Robert Enrico's 1967 film Les Aventuriers (original English release title The Last Adventure). Whenever I'm asked which I think is the most underrated, most unjustly forgotten about film, my answer is Les Aventuriers. To my knowledge the film has only been available on DVD in France without any subtitles. This is a film I've been desperate to see again since I caught it several times on TV in my childhood. Last night I finally watched the film again and it still lived up to my memories.
Before I continue I have to say that like so many German releases, this only has optional German subtitles (German title Die Abenteurer) , so the release is only suitable for French and German speakers. Hopefully as there now is an excellent HD transfer available, this means that the film will get released in other countries. Still, I want to write a little bit about the film, because it was the first film I saw that made a huge impression on me.
As the title hints at, this is (at least in part) an adventure film headlining stars Alain Delon and Lino Ventura. Apparently the reason why this film has been forgotten about is because it had nothing to do with the French New Wave which made headlines around the world in the 60s, being a classically made genre film. That said, its central romantic triangle and shifts of plot, tone and genres would have been perfectly at home in a Nouvelle Vague film.
At the heart of the Les Aventuriers is the engaging interplay between its three leads; Delon, Ventura and the beautiful, likable Joanna Shimkus, who had a promising, if all too brief career in the 60s and early 70s (since her retirement, she's mainly been known as Mrs Sidney Poitier). The films next asset is a plot that constantly turns unexpected corners. There are shifts of tone which the film navigates brilliantly, as it moves from lighthearted comedy, to globe trotting adventure, towards a melancholy last act that pulls the rug from under ones feet. Two thirds into the story, what has been a light hearted comedy adventure so far turns unexpectedly dark and serious, heading towards a downbeat, heartbreaking ending. But then that's exactly the reason why the film has stayed with me and has haunted me ever since.
As to the premise, Shimkus plays a young sculptress who sets up her studio in Ventura's drag racing garage after meeting him collecting scrap metal for her art pieces. Ventura's best friend is Delon, a stunt pilot. Though only subtly hinted at, it becomes clear that both men are attracted to the girl, but neither makes a move out of respect for the other. The girl also is sensitive to the men's friendship, so they have an unspoken agreement for their relationships remain platonic. By not going down the expected romantic route, the film becomes a touching portrait of an equal three way friendship. Instead of jealousies that would have ensued had the girl hooked up with one of the guys, the three friends look out for, care for and support each other. To not become a conventional love story is unexpected for a film that throws France's most handsome male movie star and a beautiful girl into the mix. And that's just the first of many unexpected turns the film has up its sleeve.
When each of the friends suffers a major setback in their individual ventures, they decide to travel to the Congo, where they have found out is a treasure in a sunken plane, due to Delon's dealings with shady business people. There the adventure begins and the film becomes increasingly more unpredictable as our three heroes move into dangerous territory.
Two more aspects that really enhance the film are the beautiful widescreen cinematography by Jean Boffety, as the film moves from a grey suburban Paris, to a sun drenched Africa, to a bleak Southern France. The use of locations is fantastic, with France being far from the glamorous place of Hollywood films, but grey and dismal, in stark contrast to the sun drenched, colourful African scenes. The tremendously stylish score by François de Roubaix is another major asset, with a memorable, whistled theme tune.
Hopefully the fact that the film has been released on Blu in one country will mean that it will become available in other territories. A cult film in Germany, France and Japan, this film is deserving a re-discovery in this country too.
Before I continue I have to say that like so many German releases, this only has optional German subtitles (German title Die Abenteurer) , so the release is only suitable for French and German speakers. Hopefully as there now is an excellent HD transfer available, this means that the film will get released in other countries. Still, I want to write a little bit about the film, because it was the first film I saw that made a huge impression on me.
As the title hints at, this is (at least in part) an adventure film headlining stars Alain Delon and Lino Ventura. Apparently the reason why this film has been forgotten about is because it had nothing to do with the French New Wave which made headlines around the world in the 60s, being a classically made genre film. That said, its central romantic triangle and shifts of plot, tone and genres would have been perfectly at home in a Nouvelle Vague film.
At the heart of the Les Aventuriers is the engaging interplay between its three leads; Delon, Ventura and the beautiful, likable Joanna Shimkus, who had a promising, if all too brief career in the 60s and early 70s (since her retirement, she's mainly been known as Mrs Sidney Poitier). The films next asset is a plot that constantly turns unexpected corners. There are shifts of tone which the film navigates brilliantly, as it moves from lighthearted comedy, to globe trotting adventure, towards a melancholy last act that pulls the rug from under ones feet. Two thirds into the story, what has been a light hearted comedy adventure so far turns unexpectedly dark and serious, heading towards a downbeat, heartbreaking ending. But then that's exactly the reason why the film has stayed with me and has haunted me ever since.
As to the premise, Shimkus plays a young sculptress who sets up her studio in Ventura's drag racing garage after meeting him collecting scrap metal for her art pieces. Ventura's best friend is Delon, a stunt pilot. Though only subtly hinted at, it becomes clear that both men are attracted to the girl, but neither makes a move out of respect for the other. The girl also is sensitive to the men's friendship, so they have an unspoken agreement for their relationships remain platonic. By not going down the expected romantic route, the film becomes a touching portrait of an equal three way friendship. Instead of jealousies that would have ensued had the girl hooked up with one of the guys, the three friends look out for, care for and support each other. To not become a conventional love story is unexpected for a film that throws France's most handsome male movie star and a beautiful girl into the mix. And that's just the first of many unexpected turns the film has up its sleeve.
When each of the friends suffers a major setback in their individual ventures, they decide to travel to the Congo, where they have found out is a treasure in a sunken plane, due to Delon's dealings with shady business people. There the adventure begins and the film becomes increasingly more unpredictable as our three heroes move into dangerous territory.
Two more aspects that really enhance the film are the beautiful widescreen cinematography by Jean Boffety, as the film moves from a grey suburban Paris, to a sun drenched Africa, to a bleak Southern France. The use of locations is fantastic, with France being far from the glamorous place of Hollywood films, but grey and dismal, in stark contrast to the sun drenched, colourful African scenes. The tremendously stylish score by François de Roubaix is another major asset, with a memorable, whistled theme tune.
Hopefully the fact that the film has been released on Blu in one country will mean that it will become available in other territories. A cult film in Germany, France and Japan, this film is deserving a re-discovery in this country too.