The Burglars
In Athens a collection of emeralds is successfully stolen by a team of robbers, led by safe-cracker Azad. Things go smoothly until they miss the ship by which they planned their escape; a police chief pursues Azad while he waits for the next ship to set off.
The film earned $33.0M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Burglars (1971) exemplifies meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Henri Verneuil's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Azad
Abel Zacharia
Lena
Ralph
Helene
Main Cast & Characters
Azad
Played by Jean-Paul Belmondo
A charismatic master thief who leads a heist crew in Greece and must evade both police and dangerous criminals.
Abel Zacharia
Played by Omar Sharif
A corrupt and obsessive police commissioner who pursues Azad relentlessly, driven by personal vendetta rather than justice.
Lena
Played by Dyan Cannon
A beautiful and enigmatic woman caught between the thief and the police commissioner, serving as both love interest and moral compass.
Ralph
Played by Robert Hossein
Azad's loyal partner in crime, a skilled thief and trusted ally who assists in the heist and escape.
Helene
Played by Nicole Calfan
A member of Azad's crew who provides support and local connections during their time in Greece.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Azad and his crew prepare for the heist at a wealthy Greek villa, establishing them as professional thieves operating in the criminal underworld of Athens.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Corrupt police inspector Abel Zacharia appears, revealing he witnessed the heist and demands a cut of the emeralds, transforming a clean getaway into a deadly game of extortion.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 30 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Azad refuses to give Zacharia the emeralds and commits to outwitting the corrupt cop, choosing open conflict over capitulation and launching a dangerous game of pursuit., moving from reaction to action.
At 60 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Zacharia raises the stakes by eliminating one of Azad's crew members, proving he'll kill to get the emeralds. This is no longer just blackmail—it's a fight for survival., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 90 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The gang is decimated—crew members dead or captured. Azad stands alone with the emeralds, his criminal empire destroyed, facing Zacharia with no allies and no clear escape., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 96 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Azad devises a final gambit to escape by ship, using Zacharia's greed against him. He arranges a confrontation at the docks where only one man will leave with the emeralds., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Burglars's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping The Burglars against these established plot points, we can identify how Henri Verneuil utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Burglars within the action genre.
Henri Verneuil's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Henri Verneuil films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.8, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Burglars exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Henri Verneuil filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more Henri Verneuil analyses, see The Body of My Enemy.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Azad and his crew prepare for the heist at a wealthy Greek villa, establishing them as professional thieves operating in the criminal underworld of Athens.
Theme
During the heist planning, a crew member remarks that in their world, trust is the only currency that matters—foreshadowing how betrayal will unravel everything.
Worldbuilding
The elaborate heist sequence unfolds as Azad's crew breaks into the villa, disabling security systems and cracking the safe to steal a fortune in emeralds, establishing the stakes and criminal expertise.
Disruption
Corrupt police inspector Abel Zacharia appears, revealing he witnessed the heist and demands a cut of the emeralds, transforming a clean getaway into a deadly game of extortion.
Resistance
Azad debates how to handle Zacharia's blackmail—pay him off, kill him, or flee. The gang weighs options while Zacharia tightens his grip, making escape from Athens increasingly difficult.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Azad refuses to give Zacharia the emeralds and commits to outwitting the corrupt cop, choosing open conflict over capitulation and launching a dangerous game of pursuit.
Mirror World
Hélène, a beautiful and mysterious woman, enters Azad's orbit. Their attraction offers a glimpse of something beyond the criminal life—connection that transcends greed.
Premise
Cat-and-mouse games unfold across Athens as Azad evades Zacharia while planning the crew's escape. The iconic car chase through the city showcases Azad's daring and resourcefulness.
Midpoint
Zacharia raises the stakes by eliminating one of Azad's crew members, proving he'll kill to get the emeralds. This is no longer just blackmail—it's a fight for survival.
Opposition
Zacharia systematically closes escape routes, using his police authority to trap the thieves. The crew fractures under pressure as paranoia and self-interest erode their unity.
Collapse
The gang is decimated—crew members dead or captured. Azad stands alone with the emeralds, his criminal empire destroyed, facing Zacharia with no allies and no clear escape.
Crisis
Azad contemplates surrendering the emeralds to save himself, weighing whether the fortune is worth dying for. His relationship with Hélène crystallizes what truly matters.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Azad devises a final gambit to escape by ship, using Zacharia's greed against him. He arranges a confrontation at the docks where only one man will leave with the emeralds.
Synthesis
The climactic confrontation at the harbor as Azad and Zacharia face off. The deadly game reaches its conclusion amid cargo ships and cranes, greed meeting cunning in a final showdown.
Transformation
The emeralds scatter into the sea as Zacharia falls to his death. Azad survives but loses the fortune—a pyrrhic victory where freedom costs everything he risked his life to steal.