The Burglars (1971)

Classic Heist Film of the 1970's, THE BURGLARS is an excellent heist caper film in the same league as RIFIFI, TOPKAPI, OCEAN'S ELEVEN(both the 1960's version as well as the recent one directed by Steven Sodenburgh) and THE ANDERSON TAPES, filmed on location in Greece and directed by Henri Venueil who specialized in such action films like THE SICILIAN CLAN, THE SERPENT and FEAR IN THE CITY aka THE NIGHT CALLER also starring Jean Paul Belmondo. In this film, Belmondo plays master cat burglar Asad who with his gang performs an elaborate heist of precious emeralds from a rich socialite's villa in Greece. Due to travel complications, the gang can't leave the country within a week and they are being pursued by a tenacious crooked police detective marvelously played by Omar Sharif who wants the emerald for himself. Then Belmondo and Sharif play a very dangerous cat and mouse game between them to see which one of them ends up with the emeralds with luscious Dyan Cannon as the bait. There are great car chase scenes similar to the ones in BULLITT and THE FRENCH CONNECTION courtesy of Remy Julianne and his stunt team but Belmondo himself performed all of his outrageous stunts in this film that must be seen to be believed! The icing on the cake is the marvelous buoyant score by Maestro Ennio Morrecone . The DVD has both the US release version which is 113 minutes long and the International Version in French with English subtitles which is 125 minutes long because THE BURGLARS was that rare film filmed suimultaneously in both English and French language versions. I heartfully recommend the International Version which is on this DVD because it is the Director's Cut of the film which is longer and has the complete ending of the film that is abruptly cut in the US Version. Thanks to Sony Columbia Home Video for finally releasing this action classic on video in the US at last in a digitally restored and remastered version.

Was really happy to see this movie again after 35 years. Took me back to my childhood days of seeing a movie filmed in the Greece I used to know when I was a kid. The movie was not Oscar winning material - but actors like Jean-Paul Belmondo and Omar Shariff just don’t exist anymore! Classic movie, corny, and absolutely fun to watch! A really cool movie of the 70’s!

The story was good.

I probably would have liked it but it was advertised as 'All Regions'. When inserted it came up as 'Incompatible wrong region'. Check with supplier before ordering this.

Beautiful clear print. Loved the movie. The soundtrack is mono and what can you expect from a 1971 movie? But the print was beautiful

Great film, superbly crafted!

always wanted this on DVD-glad I found it-dyan canon always a hoot

Stumbled on this on TCM. Had no idea Belmondo was so athletic. The initial heist sequence is amazing. The nightclub scenes as well as Dyan Cannons pad in vivid color, out of control car chase...if you’re bored another scene will hook you.