Léon Morin, Priest (1961) Léon Morin, prêtre (original title)

Director:

Jean-Pierre Melville

Writers:

Béatrix Beck (novel)
Jean-Pierre Melville (screenplay)

Release Date:

22 September 1961 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

In World War II, the widow Barny sees the Italian soldiers arriving in occupied Saint Bernard while walking to her job...

Plot Keywords:

Religion | Clergy | Dream Sequence | Based On Novel | Character Name In Title

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Jean-Paul Belmondo	...	Léon Morin
Emmanuelle Riva	...	Barny
Irène Tunc	...	Christine Sangredin
Nicole Mirel	...	Sabine Levy
Gisèle Grimm	...	Lucienne
Marco Behar	...	Edelman
Monique Bertho	...	Marion
Marc Eyraud
Nina Grégoire
Monique Hennessy	...	Arlette
Edith Loria
Micheline Schererre
Renee Liques
Simone Vannier
Lucienne Marchand
Nelly Pitorre
Ernest Varial
Chantal Gozzi
Cedric Grant	...	American soldier
George Lambert	...	American soldier
Marielle Gozzi	...	France (older)
Patricia Gozzi	...	France
Gérard Buhr	...	Gunther
Howard Vernon	...	The colonel
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Claude Achard
André Badin
Madeleine Ganne
Adeline Aucoc	...	Femme (uncredited)
Louis Saintève	...	Un homme (uncredited)
Volker Schlöndorff	...	Un homme (uncredited)

Directed by
Jean-Pierre Melville

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Béatrix Beck		novel
Jean-Pierre Melville		screenplay and dialogue

Produced by
Georges de Beauregard	....	producer
Carlo Ponti	....	producer

Original Music by
Martial Solal

Cinematography by
Henri Decaë

Film Editing by
Jacqueline Meppiel
Nadine Trintignant
Marie-Josèphe Yoyotte

Production Design by
Daniel Guéret

Makeup Department
Christine Fornelli	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jacqueline Parey	....	assistant director
Volker Schlöndorff	....	assistant director

Art Department
Robert Christidès	....	set designer

Sound Department
Jacques Maumont	....	sound mixer
Guy Villette	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Jean Rabier	....	camera operator

Music Department
Albert Raisner	....	musician: harmonica

Production Companies

• Concordia Compagnia Cinematografica
• Rome Paris Films

Distributors

• Ciné Vog Films (1961) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Eurooppalainen Filmi (1962) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Lux Compagnie Cinématographique de France (1961) (France) (theatrical)
• Rialto Pictures (2009) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled) (reissue)
• BFI (Access) (2003) (UK) (re-release)
• Criterion Collection, The (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Kino Video (USA) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1976) (Finland) (TV) (MTV1)

Also Known As:

"Léon Morin, prêtre" - France (original title)
"Leon Morin, Priest" - International (English title) (literal title)
"The Forgiven Sinner" - USA

Runtime:

Sweden:130 min | UK:115 min (2003 re-release) | Argentina:130 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival) | USA:117 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG (2003 re-release) | West Germany:18 | Finland:S (cut) (1962) | Argentina:13 | USA:Not Rated

Company:

Concordia Compagnia Cinematografica

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Son of Gascogne (1995)

Forbidden Territory

For years now,the over all theme of religion in cinema has managed to touch more than it's share of raw nerves,both in the U.S.A.,as well as Europe (does anyone remember the brou-ha-ha that was raised over Jean Luc Goddard's 'Hail Mary',back in the mid 1980's,or 'The Last Temptation Of Christ',in 1988,or even 'The Life Of Brian'in 1979?). Long before all of that,there was a film that I'm sure raised some folk's eyebrows in 1961. That film was 'Leon Morin,Priest'. The story concerns a newly widowed young woman known as Barny,played by Emmanuel Riva,who is a self avowed atheist,who is seeking advice from a local priest,named Leon Morin,played by (then)France's matinée idol,Jean Paul Belmando ('Breathless',and way too many to mention here). The time is world war 2,and the small village Barny lives in is being invaded by Germans,Italians & later,American soldiers. What starts out as a series of conversations on spiritual matters,turns to unrequited love,which turns more serious as the story unfolds. Jean Pierre Melville (who was generally more known for his film noir crime epics, such as 'Le Cercle Rouge','Le Samourai','Army Of Shadows',etc.)directs & writes the story & screenplay,based on the novel by Beatrix Beck, in a film that tests one woman's temptation for the heart of another man. The rest of the cast (unknown by yours truly)turn in fine performances. The crisp,black & white cinematography by Henri Decae makes real good use of light & shadow (especially if the print quality is good to excellent),and the use of distance between the two characters,which eventually merge closer as the story goes on. Not exactly top shelf Melville,but none the less,still worth a look. Most European prints of this film originally ran 130 minutes,but unfortunately,the North American distributed print clocks in at 117 minutes (including the newly printed re-issue edition). Spoken mostly in French,with a wee bit of German,with English subtitles. Not rated by the MPAA,this film contains some minor adult content,and a rude word,or two.