The Red Circle 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

Criterion’s 4K UHD release of Le Cercle Rouge features a meticulously detailed presentation, sourced from a 4K restoration of the 35mm original camera negative and interpositive, with a 35mm positive print used as color reference. The transfer was managed by StudioCanal at Hiventy in France, and additional restoration work was performed by the Criterion Collection. The film is presented on UHD Blu-ray in native 4K resolution with Dolby Vision HDR (as well as HDR10), while the accompanying Blu-ray includes a high-definition SDR version. The aspect ratio remains at the original 1.85:1, closely honoring the photochemical finish intended by cinematographer Henri Decaë.

Technically, the new transfer achieves significant improvements in fine detail, image stability, and clarity, with virtually no visible print damage, scratches, or unwanted artifacts. Grain is well-managed without excessive degraining or artificial sharpening. Textural fidelity and overall cleanliness are exemplary, positioning this edition as a benchmark for the film’s presentation on home media. However, the new color grading—integral to this restoration—has proven controversial. The warmer tone, introduced during HDR grading, mutes many of the cooler blues and a range of white highlights that were hallmarks of the original palette. This regrading can flatten shadow nuance and destabilize the native dynamic range, impacting both daylight exteriors and dimly lit interiors. While HDR affords improved contrast and select scenes display more visual “pop,” the difference is sometimes subtle unless directly compared to prior releases.

Overall, Criterion’s UHD release delivers an image that is sharp, stable, and nearly immaculate, setting a new technical high standard for Le Cercle Rouge. Despite controversy surrounding the altered color grading, this version offers a substantial upgrade in resolution, dynamic range, and restoration clarity over previous editions. This is likely the definitive visual presentation for the film, though purists may take issue with some of the creative choices made during the restoration process.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation of "The Red Circle" features a single French LPCM 1.0 mono audio track, accompanied by optional English subtitles for the main feature. The lossless PCM track delivers a notably clean and well-balanced listening experience, delivering sharp dialogue and robust support for Eric Demarsan’s music score. Despite being confined to a single channel, the mix is unexpectedly immersive, with specific sequences—such as the club scenes—demonstrating impressive dynamic range and clarity.

Technical fidelity is consistently high throughout. The audio is largely free from age-related artifacts such as hiss, distortion, crackle, or dropouts, aside from a subtle hiss at very high volumes, which remains within expectations for a film of this vintage and reflects the extensive post-production dubbing typical of Melville’s work. The overall sonic presentation stands as a clear improvement over previous home video releases, providing both audiophiles and purists with an authentic and satisfying representation that is likely the best iteration available to date.

Criterion’s 4K UHD disc of "The Red Circle" omits extras on the 4K disc itself, instead providing an extensive array of supplements on the included Blu-ray. The collection emphasizes Jean-Pierre Melville’s directorial approach, notably with a robust French TV documentary from Cinéastes de notre temps, and in-depth interviews with key collaborators such as assistant director Bernard Stora—whose recollections are particularly insightful—and Rui Nogueira, author of Melville on Melville. The archival on-set material, featuring candid moments and interviews with Melville and principal cast members, delivers a vivid window into the film’s production atmosphere. Additional brief archival featurettes, original and 2003 rerelease trailers, and a scholarly booklet round out this comprehensive package. The supplements are primarily legacy content, preserving their technical and historical value for cinephiles.

Extras included in this disc:

• Jean-Pierre Melville: Portrait in 9 Poses: Television documentary profiling Melville’s life and work.
• Interview with Bernard Stora: Assistant director discusses his collaboration with Melville.
• Interview with Rui Nogueira: Author reflects on his interviews with Melville.
• On-set and archival footage: Period interviews and behind-the-scenes glimpses with Melville, Alain Delon, Yves Montand, and André Bourvil.
• Original and 2003 theatrical trailers: Promotional materials for both initial and rerelease screenings.
• Booklet: Essays by Michael Sragow and Chris Fujiwara, excerpts from Melville on Melville, an interview with composer Eric Demarsan, and an appreciation by John Woo.

Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le Cercle Rouge stands as a masterwork of the crime genre, exemplifying minimalism and the slow-burn suspense characteristic of Melville's approach. The film assembles a stellar cast—Alain Delon as the enigmatic master thief Corey, Gian Maria Volontè as the fugitive Vogel, and Yves Montand as the haunted ex-cop and sharpshooter Jansen—whose intersecting paths set the stage for an intricate heist on a prestigious Parisian jewelry store. Delon's performance is understated yet riveting, Montand injects raw desperation into his character’s battle with personal demons, and Volontè strikes a compelling balance of menace and camaraderie. André Bourvil, as Inspector Mattei, brings measured resolve to a relentless pursuit.

Drawing on both American film noir traditions and French predecessors like Dassin’s Rififi, Melville crafts an uncompromising world defined by professionalism, fatalism, and code-bound isolation—remarkably devoid of romantic entanglements or sentimental dialogue. The characters are honor-driven, almost mythic figures whose destinies are as methodically constructed as the film’s celebrated jewelry heist sequence. This heist, taking up nearly 30 minutes and played out in near-total silence, is a triumph of quiet tension and visual precision.

The careful pacing is essential to Melville’s technique, allowing each scene to reach its natural conclusion and ratcheting up suspense without relying on explosive violence or high body counts. Cinematographer Henri Decaë’s cool, stylish visuals underscore the bleak beauty of Melville’s universe, where meticulous attention to detail elevates every frame. Le Cercle Rouge is quintessential neo-noir—deliberate, introspective, and executed with immaculate technical skill.

Criterion’s 4K UHD Blu-ray release of Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le Cercle Rouge presents a mixed package for discerning cinephiles. While the new 4K master offers improved resolution and carries forward all previously available special features, it is let down by a questionable color grading that imparts an unnaturally warm tone and introduces anomalies affecting dynamic range. These choices compromise the visual authenticity and original aesthetic intended by Melville, which may disappoint purists seeking a definitive restoration.

Nevertheless, the film’s core brilliance remains undiminished: Le Cercle Rouge stands as both a masterpiece of crime cinema and a hallmark of French New Wave style. Melville’s direction, narrative precision, and taut suspense have lost none of their power, making this film an essential piece of cinematic history. For those who have yet to add this title to their collection, this UHD edition includes a robust suite of extras and represents the most comprehensive package available to date.

In conclusion, Criterion’s 4K UHD release of Le Cercle Rouge is a notable upgrade for newcomers, with exceptional supplemental material and the sharpest image yet for home media. However, long-time collectors or those satisfied with previous releases, especially the Criterion Blu-ray, may not find the restoration compelling enough to justify an upgrade due to the altered grading. Ultimately, this edition ensures Melville’s legacy is accessible and celebrated, even if some technical choices fall short of definitive status.