How a French heist film star invented a revolutionary way to get paid
In short: When Alain Delon demanded a role in the 1963 crime drama Any Number Can Win, American producers refused to pay his salary. Delon countered by trading his fee for distribution rights, a gamble that earned him ten times more than his co-star and changed how actors negotiate forever.
Directed by Henri Verneuil, Any Number Can Win—originally titled Mélodie en sous-sol—follows an aging criminal named Charles, played by Jean Gabin, who recruits a young petty thief named Francis to rob a casino in Cannes. The film, based on Zekial Marko's novel The Big Grab, depicts an intricate heist involving ventilation shafts and a basement vault. Despite the meticulous planning, the operation ends in disaster when the stolen loot is accidentally exposed in a swimming pool.
The production is as famous for its behind-the-scenes maneuvering as its plot. While Jean Gabin was the intended lead, Alain Delon fought hard for the role of Francis. American producers, skeptical of Delon's international appeal, initially demanded he work for free. In response, Delon pioneered what became known as 'Delon's method,' opting for distribution rights in specific territories rather than a traditional salary. The move proved incredibly lucrative; Gabin later noted that Delon earned ten times his own salary, including $125,000 from Japanese rights alone, though Delon remarked in 1965 that few others had successfully replicated his strategy.
Upon its release, the film earned significant critical acclaim, with The Washington Post calling it 'dazzling' and The New York Times naming it one of the ten best films of the year. It also received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America. The film's legacy is further cemented by its jazz score by Michel Magne, which inspired a charting single by Jimmy Smith. While a 1994 colorized version exists, it remains 14 minutes shorter than the original, which is why most international DVD releases prioritize the complete black-and-white print.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Any Number Can Win (film)
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