Lino Ventura unfortunately isn't a household name in English speaking countries. In most of the world, stars of French movies are just as popular as their Hollywood colleagues. But the indolence of English speaking audience (sorry, guys) to watch foreign movies, either subtitled or dubbed (you would get easily used to it) means that one of the biggest movie stars in the world, Alain Delon, is almost absolutely unknown in the USA. The same goes for stars like Jean Gabin, Jean-Paul Belmondo or Lino Ventura.
I've chosen a few interesting movies that I like.
GREED IN THE SUN (1964)
This movie is originally called "100.000 dollars au soleil" and it stars Ventura and Jean-Paul Belmondo. They are truck drivers in North Africa, friends, but one day Belmondo steals a truck with an expensive load. Ventura goes to pursue him. A modern truck western directed by a prolific French director Henri Verneuil.
THE DICTATORS GUNS (1965)
Ventura against gun stealers on the sea. The movie was shot in a huge water tank. You can't say that when watching the movie.
THE LAST ADVENTURE (1967)
Ventura teams up with Delon and they are friends for life in this sad adventure movie about fullfilling dreams. Rather episodic, but strong, with great performances by both stars and Joanna Shimkus, later Mrs. Sidney Poitier.
Ventura again with Delon, again with Verneuil and for the last time with Gabin. A great movie based on a book by Auguste Le Breton. Perfect music by Ennio Morricone. Gabin is the mafia boss in France, Delon is a very wanted criminal and Ventura is the cop on his track.
ARMY OF SHADOWS (1969)
A very depressive movie about the French resistance during WWII. Nazis are powerful, resistance is falling apart. In my book the best movie by Jean-Pierre Melville.
THE VALACHI PAPERS (1972)
This is a Bronson movie, where Ventura played the part of the legendary boss Vito Genovese. I have to rewatch it as I don't remember it much except for liking it. In my book the best Terence Young movie.
THE FRENCH DETECTIVE (1975)
Lino is a cop again, struggling with powerful politicians and taking care of his young hot-headed colleague Patrick Dewaere. A good movie.
THE MEDUSA TOUCH (1978)
The only horror starring Ventura. He didn't like it, so he refused other English spoken parts like in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. He is dubbed by someone else actually. Ventura is a cop again investigating the attempted murder of a well known writer John Morlar (Richard Burton), who seems more and more to be a very strange guy. Ventura hated it, critics hated it, but it's actually very good.
GARDE A VUE (1981)
A little room, three man. A comissioner, a policeman and a suspect. The comissioner is Ventura, the suspect is Michel Serrault. Really a good movie about guilt and confession.
ESPION LEVE TOI (1982)
Another spy movie starring Ventura, together with Michel Piccoli and Bruno Cremer. Who is the hunter and why does he hunt? Again great score by Morricone.
Movies I haven't seen but that should be interesting:
The Wise Guys (1966)
Ventura teamed with Bourvil in a movie by Robert Enrico.
Second Breath (1966)
Ventura in a Melville crime movie.
Three Tough Guys (1974)
Italian blaxploitation starring Ventura, Isaac Hayes and Fred Williamson!
Illustrious Corpses (1976)
Political crime drama from the good old Italy. Co-starring Max Von Sydow.
Butterfly on the Shoulder (1978)
Another spy movie directed by Jacques Deray this time.
Jigsaw (1979)
Ventura in Canada with Angie Dickinson and Donald Pleasence!
Les Miserables (1982)
An adaptation of the Victor Hugo classic novel.
The Ruffian (1983)
Ventura + Claudia Cardinale + Morricone, in Canadian nature again.
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