RIFIFI IN THE CITY (RIFIFI EN LA CIUDAD)
dir. Jesús Franco, 1963
Spain. 104 min.
In Spanish with English subtitles.

RIFIFI IN THE CITY is a hybrid film-noir/pre-giallo thriller which functions as an indictment of political corruption. Franco's poetic imagery is combined with a unique sense of melancholic moodiness making a proper companion piece to DEATH WHISTLES THE BLUES while also sharing a nightclub named, The Stardust.

Starring Jean Servais, of Rififi fame, the film was lauded by Orson Welles who later hired Franco as an assistant on CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT. With its subtle blend of genres, RIFIFI IN THE CITY offers a nuanced stylistic exploration of kleptocracy and remains criminally unseen.