Band of Outsiders (1964) Bande à part (original title)

Director:

Jean-Luc Godard

Writer:

Dolores Hitchens (novel)
(more)

Release Date:

5 August 1964 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Two crooks with a fondness for old Hollywood B-movies convince a languages student to help them commit a robbery.

Plot Keywords:

Shootout | French Noir | Paris France | Dance | Trio

Cast

Anna Karina	...	Odile
Danièle Girard	...	English Teacher
Louisa Colpeyn	...	Madame Victoria
Chantal Darget	...	Arthur's Aunt
Sami Frey	...	Franz
Claude Brasseur	...	Arthur
Georges Staquet	...	Le légionnaire
Ernest Menzer	...	Arthur's Uncle
Jean-Claude Rémoleux	...	L'élève buveur d'alcool
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michel Delahaye	...	Le portier
Jean-Luc Godard	...	Le narrateur
Monsieur Jojot
Claude Makovski	...	Pupil
Michèle Seghers	...	Student in English Class

Directed by
Jean-Luc Godard		(as JeanLuc Cinéma Godard)

Writing credits
Dolores Hitchens		(novel "Fools' Gold")
Jean-Luc Godard		(scenario) uncredited

Original Music by
Michel Legrand

Cinematography by
Raoul Coutard

Film Editing by
Françoise Collin
Dahlia Ezove
Agnès Guillemot

Makeup Department
Janou Pottier	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Philippe Dussart	....	production manager
Ritta Sarf	....	unit manager
Maurice Urbain	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hélène Kalougine	....	assistant director (as Hélène Kalouguine)
Jean-Paul Savignac	....	assistant director (as JeanClaude Savignac)

Sound Department
Antoine Bonfanti	....	sound
Robert Cambourakis	....	sound assistant
René Levert	....	sound
Jean Philippe	....	sound assistant

Camera and Electrical Department
Fernand Coquet	....	electrician
Pierre Coquet	....	electrician (as Pierrot Coquet)
JeanClaude Duran	....	grip
Bernard Largemain	....	grip
Georges Liron	....	camera operator
Marilù Parolini	....	still photographer (as Marilou Parolini)
Théo Robichet	....	camera operator
Roger Schleich	....	grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Christiane Fageol	....	wardrobe

Other crew
Patricia Finaly	....	office production assistant
Jeanne Marie Olivier	....	office production assistant (as JaneMarie Olivier)
Suzanne Schiffman	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Columbia Films (presents)
• Anouchka Films
• Orsay Films

Distributors

• Columbia Films (1964) (France) (theatrical)
• British Film Institute (BFI) (2001) (UK) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Columbia Films (1965) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (1965) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Royal Films International (1966) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled) (some cut) (replaced to English credit)
• Silver Screen Collection (2008) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Atlantic Film (2010) (Finland) (DVD)
• Atlantic Film (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• BFI Video (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Pan Vision Oy (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Pathé Contemporary Films (1964) (USA) (subtitled)
• Rialto Pictures (2001) (USA) (re-release)
• Ripley's Home Video (2012) (Italy) (DVD)
• Tobis (2006) (Germany) (DVD) (box-set)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• YLE Teema (2009) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Studios Marignan  acknowledgement (as Marignan)
• S.I.M.O.  sound re-recording
• GTC  sound re-recording (as G. T. C)
• Doubleday  book publisher: New York
• Éditions Gallimard  book publisher: Paris (as Gallimard)

Also Known As:

"Bande à part" - France (original title)

Runtime:

USA:95 min

Country:

France

Language:

French | English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16 (nf) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Chateau d'Eau, Porte des Lilas, Le Métro, Paris, France

Company:

Columbia Films

Trivia:

The principle actors rehearsed for the famous dance sequence in nightclubs and bars in Paris' Latin District.

Goofs:

Continuity: When assaulted by his uncle, Arthur's position changes between shots.

Quotes:

Arthur:The situation couldn't be clearer. But what's not clear is the part I'll be playing.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Good Dick (2008)

Soundtrack:

Les parapluies de Cherbourg

Amazing Film

This is a very rich and entertaining work. The plot revolves around two men and a woman who decide to rob the employer of the woman's aunt. However, Godard uses this slender plot as an excuse to riff on a wide spectrum of subjects. The would-be criminals run around, dance, recite newspapers stories to each other and have pretend shoot-outs.

This film is a lot of fun. Watch out for the celebrated dance sequence in the cafe and the scene where the three hold a minutes silence and all the noise on the soundtrack is cut off for the duration.

Acting wise, the film is stolen by the lovely Anna Karina (who was Godard's wife at the time) as the sweet, vague woman at the centre of the trio. Godard himself does the voice-over narration relating the story.

Filmed on the cold, de-glamorised streets of urban Paris, the film has a spontaneous feel that adds a lot to the exhilarating feel of the whole work.

This film is a charming, fun and suspense filled picture from one of the world's most interesting film-makers.