Mélodie en sous-sol: the first Gabin-Delon duel that shook the heist film
Released in 1963, the black-and-white thriller attracted over 3.5 million viewers and earned Delon a daring financial gamble.
Mélodie en sous-sol, the first cinematic face-to-face between Jean Gabin and Alain Delon, marked the heist-film genre. Released in 1963, it was directed by Henri Verneuil, based on John Trinian’s novel, adapted by Albert Simonin, and driven by Michel Audiard’s sharp dialogue. The meticulously planned robbery, with its iconic scenes in the ventilation shafts and the swimming pool, drew more than 3.5 million viewers, triumphed in Japan and even enjoyed a private screening at the Elysee for General de Gaulle. To land the role of Francis, the 27-year-old Delon negotiated directly with producer Jacques Bar, reimbursed Jean-Louis Trintignant’s cancellation fee and agreed to work without a fixed salary in exchange for international exploitation rights, which earned him $125,000, according to AlloCiné. He recalled that Gabin’s simple gesture, "Bonjour monsieur", had petrified him.