Rififi

The aging gangster Tony le Stéphanois (Jean Servais) has just served five years in jail for a jewel heist.  His friend Jo proposes a new job at a seemingly impenetrable jewel store.  At first Tony refuses, however, down on his luck, inevitably he not only accepts but raises the stakes.

Blacklisted from Hollywood in 1951, Jules Dassin came to Europe to continue his career resulting in this classic film noir, which has set the benchmark for all heist movies since.  The film was a resounding success with Dassin receiving the award for Best Director at Cannes.  Based on a controversial novel, Truffaut reviewed the film as follows: "Out of the worst crime novel I’ve ever read, Jules Dassin has made the best crime film I've ever seen".

The legendary heist scene is essential viewing for anyone who loves cinema and among a stellar cast, keep an eye out for Dassin himself as César le Milanais.