‘Mille Milliards de Dollars’ (aka ‘A Thousand Billion Dollars’) Blu-Ray Review – A Dynamite Conspiracy Thriller

From Henri Verneuil, the acclaimed director of The Sicilian Clan, The Night Caller and I… for Icarus, comes a captivating conspiracy thriller about a young journalist, Paul Kerjean (Patrick Dewaere, Going Places), who stumbles across something far more sinister than a simple suicide in the death of a politician—he uncovers an assassination plot hatched by an American multinational company intent on taking over several French industries. Kerjean aims to gather enough evidence to expose the American corporation for what it really is, before French companies start to disappear—along with their employees. The superb cast features Michel Auclair (The Day of the Jackal), Caroline Cellier (Year of the Jellyfish), Charles Denner (Bluebeard), Anny Duperey (Les Compères), Jeanne Moreau (The Bride Wore Black) and Mel Ferrer (Blood and Roses).

For thoughts on Mille Milliards de Dollars, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/xWdeP8yLjmQ?si=7zgxk__QyHX1nLep&t=2160]

Video Quality

Mille Milliards de Dollars comes to Blu-Ray with a new digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in its 1.66:1 original aspect ratio derived from a respectable master that was more than likely created from a restoration from the past few years. Colors are impressively saturated in a way that makes otherwise mundane environments and elements of the production design feel more lively. Skin tones are natural and consistent with distinct facial features easily observable in closeup. Black levels are robust with admirable detail in shadows and no crush at play. 

This transfer never falls victim to print damage as overall clarity and detail are rendered clearly and consistently. The shots inside interior spaces are packed with subtle details in the production design that stand out in HD. Digital noise never becomes an issue throughout. There is a slight loss in fine detail in some of the shadows, but this does not register as a substantial issue. Even without knowing the exact details of this transfer, everything looks very nice throughout. This new presentation gives this film the life it deserves thanks to Kino Classics. 

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc arrives with a great DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track in the original French with optional English subtitles. Dialogue stays prominent in the mix without fear of being drowned out by competing sounds. The score sounds strong throughout the presentation as it sets the mood of the story. The track maintains a pleasant balance with all competing elements so that dialogue comes through clearly. Environmental sounds are used to ground the experience in something tangible and immediate, and every element holds up without issue. There are no significant instances of age-related wear and tear. This audio presentation is a welcome addition to this set. 

Special Features

• Audio Commentary: Film Historians Samm Deighan provides a very informative commentary track that explores the career of Henri Verneuil, the background of the performers, the themes being explored by the auteur, how this film fares compared to other work from the director, the aesthetic of the feature, and much more. 

• Trailer: The two-and-a-half-minute trailer for Mille Milliards de Dollars is provided. There are also trailers provided for The Sicilian Clan, The Body of My Enemy, I… for Icarus, Gorky Park, and The Package. 

Final Thoughts

Mille Milliards de Dollars is another terrific paranoid thriller from Henri Verneuil that explores the idea of consolidated power within global corporations and the mighty hand they could potentially wield if left to expand exponentially. The mechanics of the plot are not altogether unexplored, but the way in which the film is executed is captivating and shows a director who is in complete control of his craft. Patrick Dewaere is in top form as an intrepid journalist who sacrifices his personal life to pursue greater acclaim within his field. If you love films akin to All The President’s Men, this will be a fantastic discovery for you. Kino Classics has delivered a Blu-Ray with a wonderful A/V presentation and a top-notch commentary track. Highly Recommended 

Mille Milliards de Dollars is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and Digital. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.