What makes it different from others?

Truly Dreadful Film

Absolutely amazing

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Henri Verneuil and actor Jean Paul Belmondo made seven movies together during their careers, and their best effort was "The Burglars." This crime thriller set in Athens pits a jewel thief Azad (Jean Paul Belmondo of "The Night Caller") against a corrupt, sleazy Athens cop, Abel Zacharia (Omar Sharif of "Dr. Zhivago"), who threatens to expose them if they don't share in the loot. Verneuil's adaptation of David Goodis' novel that he co-scripted with Vahé Katcha of "Two Hours to Kill" is far more exciting remake than original Paul Wenkos' film. The chief difference here is that Zacharia is a high-ranking policeman instead of a uniformed, squad car cop. Furthermore, the ending is superior, too, with the anti-heroic Belmondo escaping from the nasty cop. Sharif's death scene is rather unusual. The big chase around scenic Athens with Sharif in pursuit of Belmondo is genuinely exciting. Like Dan Duryea in the original "Burglar," Belmondo stumbles across a looker in a bar, Dyan Cannon, but with better results. She has an apartment where you have to clap your hands to activate the electric lights. Claude Renoir's photography is breathtaking, and Ennio Morricone provided an orchestral score that is unforgettable as are the opening credits. "The Burglars" proves that not all remakes are inferior.

I don't remember much of the film except for 2 events. One was Omar Sharif playing a game with one of the crooks. He had a glass of booze in his hand and stated to the crook that the more he drinks the worse his aim gets and every time he drank, his shots came closer to the crook. The crook gets away; however, he is wounded in the shoulder.I love the ending where Omar gets the gems; however, he is caught in a silo where grain is falling on top of him and in the end, only one of his hands with the gems is above the grain while the rest of his body is buried.The film is one of the unknown films that I did not known that Omar Sharif had made apart from Genghsis Khan, Lawrence of Arabia, The Far Palivion, and Night of the Generals.

This film is sadly underrated (as is Charles Bronson's "Red Sun") for the fun it provides. Its an old-fashioned adventure story of a corrupt cop (Sharif) in a cat and mouse game with a gang of burglars led by Belmondo with a cache of emeralds as the prize. Its beautifully shot in widescreen and the music by Morricone is awesome. A great car chase is a bonus. What else do you want for 2 hours? Good laconic perf by Belmondo. Sharif as the vicious bent cop is good as well. Dont look for deep characterization; Verneuil's goal is the keep the story moving. The widescreen (2.35) ratio of this film requires a letterbox video treatment. Unluckily for us fans it may be a long wait before we see such a treatment.

Brilliant acting, good, classic plot, fantastic score from, once again, Ennio Morricone, the best car chase ever... (Remy Julienne, of course) Belmondo is at his best, Sharif is a superb baddy, and they fight each other with skills, brains, guts and muscles. They don't make breathtaking suspense like this anymore. Well, Sharif is really... how to say? impressive? ghastly? Hum, how do you say "malsain" in english? This one is a classic. Check it out. And "l'Homme de Rio" as well.