Micitype Pretty Good

Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

Executscan Expected more

Plustown A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

Coventry Oh, how I love the raw and gritty 70's action cinema! Most of it was all about rude and extremely unorthodox macho police detectives hunting down utterly deranged psychopaths that leave a trail of terror and bloodshed throughout the most major cities of our world. The US delivered a couple of brilliant milestones in the genre (like "Dirty Harry" and "The French Connection"), Italy is probably world record holder with all their masterful "Poliziotteschi" classics, and also France proudly owns a handful of goodies. Henri Verneuil's "Peur sur la Ville" is a prototypic 70's cop thriller, and this definition basically translates into: high adrenalin action from start to finish, straightforward but tense plot lines, cool cops, nightmarish criminals, sharp dialogs, pitch-black humor and an awesome soundtrack! J-P Belmondo is absolutely terrific as the dry and sarcastic Commissioner Letellier, charged with the case of a misogynic killer who menaces his victims via the phone prior to actually strangling them. Letellier is initially quite reluctant to lead the investigation, as he's too preoccupied with catching the bank robber that killed his previous partner, but then manages to conjoin the two man hunts. The killer, who baptized himself Minos, is a delightful lunatic with one creepy-looking glass eye and a rather peculiar opinion on femininity. "Peur sur la Ville" features many recurring highlights, like the many sardonic interactions between Commissioner Letellier and his partner Moissac, but of course the most obvious aspect to worship here is the action. Belmondo literally bounces around Paris, from the rooftops of apartment buildings to all the way down in the subway network. One particular chase sequence lasts for nearly twenty minutes and includes both of Letellier's suspect targets. Making it all even more impressive is the fact that J-P Belmondo performed his own stunts. Gazing at some of the set pieces, I can assure you that he repeatedly must have risked his neck throughout this production. Nearly forty years later now, films like "Peur sur la Ville" may indeed come across as somewhat dated and overly clichéd, but it's still tremendously exhilarating and entertaining. Besides, back then those clichés weren't clichés just yet. It's just indescribably charming and fun to watch car-chases featuring those typical light European automobiles making random casualties left, right and center. The climax is tense, albeit a bit tedious and overly stretched, and you won't notice for a second that this is actually quite long for an action/thriller (+120min). Last but definitely not least, the always reliable Ennio Morricone delivers a dazzling soundtrack as well. Hearing his eerie tones during the opening credits, and you just know you're about to witness an overall excellent movie.

clong_clong This movie looks old and is sometimes a bit zany, but even if it can't have the same impact than 30 yrs ago, it is still worthy of a viewing. It's fast-paced psychopathic killer movie of the kind that later became so popular till nowadays. The dialog co-signed by Francis veber (La chèvre, le dîner de cons, les fugitifs, etc ...) that is the actual record-man for the number of movie that have been remade by Hollywood, are great and funny. As for the music made by Ennio Morricone, it works great with the movie (for instance the sequence in which Minos (the killer) is tracked up to the Galeries Lafayette's attic by the Comissaire Letellier (J.P. Belmondo) is thrilling partly because of the music and the ambiance). Notice the bit of humor when we can hear as Belmondo chase the killer in the Galeries Lafayette, the woman's voice of the advertising that says in French "there is always something happening in the Galeries Lafayette". As I said, it is a fast-paced movie, it also has a lot of action and Belmondo uses it to show his athletic skills, not using a stuntman to do the job. Belmondo is great as the bad-ass cop with a cynical sense of humor.I recommend you to check this movie out while keeping in mind that it looks old and there are some awkward moments due to its date of release (guns sounds like firecrackers).

redcircle This movie was a replacement in France. It marks the entry of a new criminal type(Minos) in a scenery unprecedented(the cold tower).The introduction is very efficient,a woman alone in her apartment,harass by the voice of Minos. Commissaire Letellier will be change his méthods for catch Minos. The opposition between the old-fashion criminal(Marcucci) and the modern(minos) is the symbol of a new area. The stunts are incredible(belmondo=keaton and Jackie Chan)specially the chase on the subway.The Veber's dialogues are very punchy. 8/10

Phroggy This one has nothing really new to offer, but is an exemple of >competent, lively filmmaking with good performances by everybody >involved (though obviously right-wing). >vehicle "Code of Silence", by Andrew Davis. Belmondo is his old >tough-guy self, though one might like hime more when he plays >his spunky Parisian self in a more humorous way. At the time, >this kind of movie made lots and lots of money at the box-office >; now they don't do 'em anymore and complains about the lack of >box-office appeals for French films at the local box-office… go >figure. T