User reviews

'Borsalino and Co.' (the English title is 'Blood on the Streets') is a good case study of the risks of 'sequel' films. Film director Jacques Deray and producer Alain Delon tried in 1974 to repeat the success of 'Borsalino' released on screen in 1970, which featured Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo, in an elegant and well choreographed production, in which the two mega-stars almost mathematically divided their time and space on the screen, being extremely careful not to shadow each other. Francois Capella, the hero played by Belmondo, dies in a spray of bullets at the end of the first film, and 'Borsalino and Co.' begins with his funeral. Roch Siffredi (Alain Delon) will spend the sequel looking for the assassins of his friend, taking revenge upon them in a cruel and spectacular way and fighting with his rivals for the control of Marseilles in the mid-1930s. The task will not be easy.

Although it is happening at the same period and in the same locations, the story of 'Borsalino and Co.' has a tone different from the one of the original movie. If there is a moral motivation in 'Borsalino' that balances the character and deeds of the heroes this was friendship. Friendship remains in the second film only a pretext mentioned in the first scenes, revenge takes its place as a feeling that guides the actions of Roch Siffredi. 'Borsalino' was more like a mobsters movie inspired by successful similar American films. 'Borsalino and Co.' slips much further into the 'film noir' genre. Less successful are the political or historical nuances, the introduction of the fascist association of Roch's enemies seems forced. From the light atmosphere, the local color, the humor and the fun of the original film, there is nothing left, even Claude Bolling's music is less inspired this time.

'Borsalino and Co.'o and Co.' it's not a bad movie. It is a cursive action film, and the story has something from 'Count de Monte Cristo', if we are already in Marseilles. Delivered by the need to be careful about the pharmaceutical partition of the screen with Belmondo, Delon dominates the film and creates a role closer to that he had other gangster films in which he played the role of the bad guy with an angelic face. However, the rest of the casting is much less inspired than the first movie in the series, and none of the supporting roles provide the opportunity for an acting creation to remember more than five minutes after the screening ends. 'Borsalino' was a special film, a piece of entertainment with the chance to be remembered long after watching it. 'Borsalino and Co.' it's just a reasonable vintage action movie. It ends with a 'to be followed' sign that never happened, and I believe that the producer and the director were inspired not to continue the series.

BORSALINO & CO. (1974) starred Alain Delon and Ricardo Cucciolla.

This is a sequel to the highly acclaimed BORSALINO which apparently is unavailable. Well, if there is one thing I hate it's dubbing. This was dubbed. Delon's voice was too low. The voices always sound disembodied to me.

The story takes place in the mid-1930s France, and it concerns a gangland war between the Volpone (Cucciolla) gang and the Roch Siffredi (Delon) gang. Initially, Volpone wins and plans to saturate the country with heroin, but Siffredi carefully works out his revenge.

It's a typical Godfather-type film without being the Godfather. Lots of cars crashing, violence, shooting, and a particularly unpleasant final scene. All very macho.

On IMDb one of the posters said, "Alain Delon, already past his prime..." Yeah, what a dog. He was a GOD, and with his hair slicked back, evening clothes, and beautifully tailored suits, he looked as if he walked off the pages of Italian Vogue. If your idea of "prime" is 25, that's sad. To each age its own beauty.

This is the follow-up to ¨Borsalino¨(1969) that's set during the 1930s, in Marseilles, France, two small time crooks work for local crime bosses until they decide to go into business for themselves. These two rough crooks join forces and when they decide to go into the business for themselves, their easy-going approach to crime starts to change. The continuation ¨Borsalino and Co¨(1974) of the successful ¨Borsalino¨ (1969), this time without Jean-Paul Belmondo as the protagonist, as Alain Delon begins right where the predecessor left off, with a more solemn and violent tone than the previous. Here Alain Delon repeats his role interpretating Roch Siffredi who on this occasion, swears to avenge the murder from his partner Francois Capella. ¨Marseille. Heaps of flowers and funeral wreaths... "A man who no longer defends his colors is no longer a man."

A nice thriller in French style , while the prior entry had a delicious serious-comic style , this sequel is more violent and strong than Borsalino (1969) . Borsalino was a slight film , a Buddy Movie , in which two likable hoods become gangland in Thirties . And this Borsalino and Co (1974) deals with a relentless revenge that will make Siffredi travel all over Marseille of the thirties in a place ruled by organized crime and the fight between gangs in order to achieve his purpose. This is a suspenseful and violent gangster movie in which action , intrigue , plot twists and thriller are continued . From the beginning to the end it turns out extremely intriguing and violent , including well developing of interesting characters , and that's why it is entertaining . The movie has lots of crossfire , dark-edged drama , thrills and moving events . Alain Delon gives a cold and fine acting in his usual style , being well accompanied by a good cast , such as : Riccardo Cucciolla, Reinhard Kolldehoff, Catherine Rouvel, Daniel Ivernel , Lionel Vitrant , Adolfo Lastretti , and brief appearances from Gunter Meisner and Anton Driffing that used to interpret Nazi roles and cameos from Claudine Auger as a cruise passenger and Mireille Dark -who was longtime girlfrend of Delon- playing a prostitute .

It contains a colorful and evocative cienematography Jean-Jacques Tarbé . Claude Bolling's infectious musical score helps very much as well .This entertaining and acceptable mobster movie was well directed by Jacques Deray , making a memorable work , though sometimes results to be slow-moving . He was a purveyor of a certain kind of noir movie , creating a tiny studio . Jacques began as an actor in his late teens and from 1952 worked as assistant to several noted directors , including Luis Bunuel and Jules Dassin . He was President of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1981 . One of his favourite actors was Alain Delon , whom Jacques directed many times . He made his first film in 1960 and Jacques directed some great French actors as Alain Delon , Jean-Louis Trintignant , Michael Serrault , Charlote Rampling and Jean-Paul Belmondo . Deray was a notorious director and writer , known for Borsalino (1970) , The Outside Man or A man is dead (1972) , Flic Story (75) , Le gang (77) , Three Men to Kill (80) , Le Marginal (1983) , He Died with His Eyes Open (85) and The Loner (87) . Being his greatest hit : La Piscine (1969). Rating : 6.5/10 . Decent sequel.

For those who enjoy 'the Godfather' and the Sicilian landscapes, Borsalino & Co. is a different view of French gangsterism in the South of France around the 1930's. Alain Delon plays the lead character of Roch Siffredi, a gangster who must fend his empire against the Italian mob who tries to muscle its way through Roch Siffredi's territory and enterprises. How Roch is able to fight back and make an unprecedented comeback while exacting his vengeance on the Italian mob is most original and Machiavellian.

Bottom line, revenge is sweet, and the movie makes great effort in recreating a 1930's decor. The background music and the theme song are particularly enjoying.

In Marseille, after the funeral of his best friend and partner François Capella, Roch Siffredi (Alain Delon) and his gangsters capture an Italian gangster that tells that the hit was ordered by the mobster Giovanni Volpone (Riccardo Cucciolla). They also learn that his brother is coming to Marseille by train. Siffredi and his men intercept the train and throw Volpone's brother on the rails. Soon Volpone kills Siffredi's men, destroys his businesses, throws his right-hand Fernand (Lionel Vitrant) with a big stone into the sea and captures Siffredi that goes missing. He also uses his influence to replace Inspector Fanti (Daniel Ivernel) by the corrupt Inspector Cazenave (André Falcon). Fernand survives and looks for Siffredi, who is interned in a hospice. Siffredi flees from the asylum with the support of Fernand and they escape to Italy by boat. Years go by until a truck of Borsalino and Co. Travels to Marseille with Siffredi, Fernand and their new gang. Retribution is coming.

"Borsalino and Co." is the sequel of the 1970 "Borsaline", also directed by Jacques Deray with a story full of action of war of gangsters. The revenges of Roch Siffredi and Giovanni Volpone are impressive, especially the one to force the enemy to drink bottles of booze. The conclusion promises a sequel that never happened. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Borsalino e Cia." ("Borsalino and Co.")

I rented this DVD today and was very disappointed. I had been seeking "Borsalino" and the clerk said, "Borsalino and Co." is in the foreign section. I wasn't yet aware there even was a sequel. I haven't seen "Borsalino" since its original '72 theatrical run. At that time I went to see it three times. I remember seeing the first run of "The Sting" and thinking it was good but not as good as "Borsalino". I loved the original, the music by Claude Bolling was unforgettable. The original had masterful dynamic interplay and tension between Belmondo and Delon. I began watching "Borsalino and Co." and soon realized it was trying yet failing to recapture its predecessor's magic. I loved Delon in "The Sicilian Clan" and other films. He is a cool screen presence, but was so effective contrasted with Belmondo's volatility.

First of all, I admit that I will watch anything with Alain Delon in it. Even that insufferably pretentious 1960s snooze-fest, The Eclipse. That drop-dead gorgeous man will continue to accelerate my pulse until I'm 90 (if I get that far). Nature's most perfect production and never repeated.

Having made that clear, I'm surprised at the negative reviews. I find this second installment far superior to the first Borsalino. In the first place, it's daubed in English (American English) and that is a lot better than the first one, which was daubed by French people speaking English (and you can tell). In the second place, then fight scenes are much more realistic than in the first film, where you could see very clearly that the blows didn't even reach the recipient. IMO, the first Borsalino was more of a comedy caper, while B & Co. is more sober, more of a real gangster film. Perhaps a bit slow, but that's how they did things in those days. Personally, I prefer them to the crash, bang, thank you, ma'am 'action' films of today.

Maybe I'm biased because I grew up watching European films of that era and I still love most of the French flic and gangster films made in those days.

My advice to young people is if you cannot watch old films with an open mind (e.i. without automatically comparing them unfavorably to the new ones, or without making the necessary concessions) just pass them by. Stick to The Godfather and Good Fellas (the last one atrocious, in my opinion, but that's just me).

All in all, B & Co. is not a bad film. Give it a chance.

I have been a fan of Alain Delon for many years, since first seeing his stunning performance as Tom Ripley in Rene Clement's superb Plein Soleil. He's one of the great icons of French cinema.

Borsalino was a film that I remembered very fondly; although I hadn't seen it since its first release it has always remained vividly in my memory, and when I saw that Kino had released it on disc I ordered it on line. What I received was this sequel, which I wasn't even aware had been made, however I watched it and was hugely disappointed. If like me you remember the original fondly, then avoid the sequel.

According to the distributors the original Borsalino is not available. Ever the optimist, I'll continue to try to track down a copy.

An old recipe of crime-thriller-revenge, good for fans of Alain Delon but easy to see it with large indulgence today. All is more than familiar, correct and predictable against the effort to surprise. So, murders and America. And, sure, Alain Delon as the blank-faced hero.

Alain Delon, already past his prime, returns to the tried-and-trusted formula of BORSALINO (1970), a fondly-remembered gangster pastiche (which I had watched some time ago, albeit dubbed, and been somewhat underwhelmed by) with a surprisingly mean-spirited but ultimately indifferent follow-up. The film is one of a staggering 9 Delon made with director Deray (the only other one I've seen is LA PISCINE [1969], which I remember liking). However, since I had purchased LE SAMOURAI (1967) while in Hollywood and recently ordered LE CERCLE ROUGE (1970), I thought I might as well give this one a try...

Though Delon served also as producer, he delivers a typically blank-faced performance and the film, with no new ideas in either script or direction, is tolerable mainly for its bouts of excessive, almost cartoonish violence. The international cast is reliable but their contribution is pretty ordinary on this occasion: Riccardo Cucciolla in a dual role (!) as Delon's gangleader rival and his twin; Rene' Koldehoff as Cucciolla's heavy-set chief thug; Catherine Rouvel (still looking gorgeous 15 years after swimming in the nude for Jean Renoir in LUNCH ON THE GRASS [1959]) also reprising her role from the original as a high-class prostitute and Delon's old flame, Daniel Ivernel (from Bunuel's DIARY OF A CHAMBERMAID [1964]) as the level-headed Police Commissioner, Alfredo Lastretti (from Jess Franco's VENUS IN FURS [1968]) as one of Delon's lieutenants...plus a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo from Anton Diffring (perhaps imposed on the film by its backers, BORSALINO AND CO. being a French/Italian/West German co-production).

I don't know weather it's just me, maybe I am used to Tho Godfather or Goodfellas types of crime movie, but I struggled watching this one. Really tried to immerse myself into that but I simply couldn't. Zero intensity, nothing to get excited about, predictable plot, unconvincing performances and all that gangster cliché story of revenge. It is really difficult for me to find any emotion apart from 110 minutes lasting boredom. Delon delivered below average performance and I didn't believe a single line he said. I immediately regretted watching the movie and felt frustrated because the movie gave me absolutely nothing apart from one lesson - to choose the movie more carefully next time.

Borsalino and Co. Is truly a remarkable film that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story, set against the gritty, fast-paced backdrop of organized crime, dives into a world of ambition, power, and vengeance. The lead performances are outstanding, and the direction brings a level of intensity that's hard to beat. It's rare to find a movie that balances action and storyline so well without compromising on either.

The pacing is excellent, and each scene is crafted to heighten the suspense, keeping you on edge for the entire film. I know I'll be revisiting this one often; it's the kind of movie that gets better with each watch. If you're a fan of well-made crime dramas, Borsalino and Co. Is a must-see. It's not just a film, but an experience, and I can't recommend it enough.