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I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Although it has been six years since "Eddie Pedak" (Alain Delon) has been released from prison, a police detective named "Inspector Mike Vedo" (Van Heflin) still believes that he is somehow involved in criminal activity. So every time something suspicious happens Inspector Vedo's first hunch is that Eddie had something to do with it. The harassment instituted by Inspector Vedo eventually results in Eddie losing his job causing his wife, "Kristine" (Ann-Margret) to get a job as a cocktail waitress to make ends meet. If that wasn't bad enough, Eddie's big brother "Walter" (Jack Palance) is planning a daring robbery and wants Eddie to help him out. Although Eddie wants to stay straight and doesn't particularly care for the men Walter has working for him, as his financial situation becomes worse Eddie begins to rethink his position—and Inspector Vedo is waiting for him to get out of line. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this film had some good talent to work with but the story was much too slow developing. Additionally, with his constant outbursts and fits of violence it was hard to have any concern for the lead character as well. Again, this movie had some good talent but the director (Ralph Nelson) didn't really take advantage of it. Because of that I have rated this film accordingly. Slightly below average.

Alain Delon has a record as a thief, despite the fact the police do not have enough against him to keep him in stir. So Alain lives and works and struggles like other people with a wife, played by Ann-Margret and a daughter. But a robbery gone bad (or did it!) implicates Alain, with one person dead. When the law goes to his work to question him, he loses his job and has to find another one. Jack Palance is good as his ex-con brother and has one last heist to retire on, and he needs Alain to pull it off. Alain won't do it. He comes to find out that his own brother was framing him for that robbery/murder just so he would help him. What a brother! When Alain can't find another job, he resorts to what he said he would never do again. Van Heflin is also good as a police detective, who has his agenda in putting Alain away. It seems Alain shot him years ago during a robbery, but the circumstantial evidence wasn't good enough; but Van Heflin knew Alain did it. What starts as a promising and interesting film with Alain and Ann-Margret's chemistry culminates to a very depressing end. In fact, I liked the film on the whole up until the last 5 or so minutes. Granted, any film about ex-cons or people on the run never has a "good ending." But some are better than others. It could have had an ending with integrity and a hope for a better day. But no! You've been warned. Some people just exist and…..

Any semi-serious movie buff or even casual viewer should be able to see that this film practically screams "Coen Brothers," 30 years before their time. The creepy blond character in "Fargo" is a dead ringer for the creepy blond bad guy in "Once a Thief," right down to the hairstyle. And the general ambiance of many scenes, as well as the ironic plot twists near the end, indicate that this movie was a big influence on the Coen bros, and to some extent, "where they went to school." It should also be noted that though this is film noir, it's also "hip" film noir, a rare breed that includes Larry Moyer's "The Moving Finger" and precious few others of the time. In fact, both these movies were too hip for their time.

I suppose I like the cast better than the film, itself. Heflin, Palance, Ann-Margret, Chandler, and Delon are all watchable. This may very well be Chandler's finest performance (and he was always good at playing bad guys). The story is one we've all seen before, many times, yet the cast makes it worth watching. Ann-Margret might not have been as good as she could have been, but she's not really that bad. Even the scenes involving the little girl work well, and the chemistry between she and Delon is exceptional. The surprise ending is tense and exciting. Too bad there's no DVD of this film. I'd buy it.Johnboy