Alain Delon apparently turned down a contract with David O Selznick before he’d made his first film, but once he became a star in France he made several attempts at cracking it in Hollywood. This was one – an MGM European co-production set in San Francisco with several Hollywood stars in support plus American director, Ralph Nelson (it’s set in San Francisco).
It starts very artily with scenes of beatniks at a jazz club, black and white photography, titled camera angles, funky atmosphere, multicultural characters (there are blacks and Chinese). The plot is more familiar – Delon is a former crook trying to go straight, hounded Javert-style by a cop he once shot, Van Heflin.
Delon is very pretty – probably too pretty for the role, not quite convincing as a former crook (or brother of Jack Palance). He makes an attractive couple with Ann-Margret, who is really hot especially when in sexy waitressing outfit – but Delon slaps her. It was at this point the film lost it for me: Delon’s character is a sulky misogynistic idiot who treats his wife badly and doesn’t really want to go straight (why doesn’t he just move as Ann-Margret suggests) so his death isn’t much of a tragedy. I liked Ann Margret- she and Delon made a good match physically at least.
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