Gilles Grangier’s Le rouge est mis (US: Speaking of Murder) is a well-crafted tale of two brothers: the cool, domineering criminal gang leader Louis (Jean Gabin) and the decent, loyal and conflicted Pierre (Marcel Bozzuffi). When Louis and his men shoot two dead and severely injure two police officers during a high-speed chase, they split up to wait out the investigation, during which time Pierre, whom the gang has never entirely trusted, is caught eavesdropping on Louis talking with Pepito (Lino Ventura) about what they did. Pepito, who constantly waves around a machine gun like it’s a fashion accessory, suspects that the soft-hearted Pierre will sing like a canary, despite Louis’ reassurances. The tension rises when Louis commands Pierre’s girlfriend Hélène (Annie Girardot), of whom he disapproves, to stay away from his little brother. (The prolonged sequence in which Louis seduces Hélène before brutally admonishing her in Bois de Boulogne is beautifully executed and brings out the best of both performers.) Grangier’s direction is tight, almost clinical at times, and Page’s camera work is steady with deft use of slow pans, notably in the scenes at the police station.