Bob le Flambeur

1956 1h 43m FR

👍

7.3

SOLID

🔥

97%

CERTIFIED FRESH

💯

METACRITIC

⭐

7.6

IMDB

★7.3TMDB · 306🍅97%Rotten Tomatoes●80Metacritic★7.6IMDB · 13,926

DramaActionCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In Paris, Bob Montagne is practically synonymous with gambling -- and winning. He is kind, classy and well-liked by virtually everyone in town, including police inspector Ledru. However, when Bob's luck turns sour, he begins to lose friends and makes the most desperate gamble of his life: to rob the Deauville casino during Grand Prix weekend, when the vaults are full. Unfortunately, Bob soon learns that the game is rigged and the cops are on to him.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Roger Duchesne
Robert 'Bob le Flambeur' Montagné
Isabelle Corey
Anne
Daniel Cauchy
Paulo
Gérard Buhr
Marc
Guy Decomble
Police Commissary Ledru
Claude Cerval
Jean, the Croupier
Howard Vernon
McKimmie, the Sponsor
Colette Fleury
Suzanne, Jean's Girlfriend

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jean-Pierre Melville
Writers: Jean-Pierre Melville, Auguste Le Breton
Languages: English, French
Countries: France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

70 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, French.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, shot by Henri Decaë. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Jo Boyer. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Monique Bonnot shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Roger Duchesne and Isabelle Corey and Daniel Cauchy carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0047892 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jean-Pierre Melville directs. Henri Decaë behind the camera. Jo Boyer scores. Monique Bonnot cuts. Produced in France. Dialogue in English, French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

170 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, French.
3Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, shot by Henri Decaë. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Jo Boyer. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Monique Bonnot shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Roger Duchesne and Isabelle Corey and Daniel Cauchy carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0047892 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 13 themes, including "robbery", "casino", "paris, france", "gambling".

The technical file

Cinematography: Henri Decaë
Original score: Jo Boyer
Editing: Monique Bonnot
Production design: Claude Bouxin
Costume design: Ted Lapidus
Runtime: 103 min · 1h 43m
Status: Released
Box office: $41,010
Original language: FR
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: Bob le Flambeur (1956)
Rotten Tomatoes: 97% 🍅 Fresh
Metacritic: 80/100
IMDB rating: 7.6/10 · 13,926 votes
MPAA: PG

Also by

Jean-Pierre Melville

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

gvasil2025-10-25
★ 7/10
A quintessential film noir from the Godfather of the French Nouvelle Vague, which, through the life of a high-class gambler, uniquely transports us to the nightlife of Montmartre in the 50s. Jean-Pierre Melville paves the way for the arrival of the French New Wave at the end of the same decade with the use of jump cuts, natural lighting, and handheld camera work. What he masterfully achieves, however, is to convey the entire atmosphere of post-war Montmartre to the big screen, which at that time was a hub for gamblers, prostitutes, petty criminals, and jazz musicians, in stark contrast to its current touristy image. The camera follows Bob through narrow alleys filled with cabarets, bistros, cheap hotels, and old residences, with the only landmark of virtue and tranquility being the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur, which looms majestically in the background of the scenes that take us to the gambler Bob's apartment. A pathological gambler with moral values who does not hesitate to set aside his personal gain, even in love, when he recognizes something pure within the sinful nightlife of Montmartre. A cynical anti-hero who, even when he veers back towards criminality, does so not merely for the easy wealth he hopes for, but primarily for the thrill of this enormous bet, the largest he has ever placed in his life. A bet with tragic consequences, mainly for others. Bob, like Melville, has experienced it all. He is no longer afraid of prison or death. He is content to spend his days languidly, allowing his passion to destroy him. Parallel lives with the film's director, who had one passion throughout his life: to make films. And he did, from the age of 6. The only thing that interrupted him was World War II, during which he joined the French Resistance and fought the Nazis until the end. As soon as the war was over, he returned to his passion, which he pursued relentlessly until death stopped him. He directed 13 films and died at the young age of 55, while writing the script for his 14th film, leaving behind a unique cinematic legacy. Originally posted on The Film Project: https://thefilmproject.org/movie/Bob%20le%20Flambeur%20(1956)#review-bdd5a646-6340-448a-a2f6-16fe0d453fae

Production companies