The Unvanquished (1964)
"L'insoumis" (original title)

Director:

Alain Cavalier

Writers:

Jean Cau, Alain Cavalier

Stars:

Alain Delon, Lea Massari, Georges Géret

Cast

Credited cast:
Alain Delon	...	Thomas
Lea Massari	...	Dominique Servet
Georges Géret	...	le lieutenant Fraser
Maurice Garrel	...	Pierre Servet
Robert Castel	...	Amerio
Viviane Attia	...	Maria
Paul Claven	...	Felicien
Robert Bazil	...	Father of Maria
Guy Laroche
Paul Pavel	...	Félicien
Camille de Casabianca	...	Rose-Marie
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alain Cavalier	...	Un passant à Lyon
Pierre Collet	...	Le policier au barrage
Laure Paillette	...	La bonne des Servet
Edith Perret	...	La servante de l'aiberge

Storyline

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

Have I the Right to Kill?

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cité Films, Compagnie Internationale de Productions Cinématographiques (CIPRA), Delbeau

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A still from this movie featuring Alain Delon was used as the cover picture for the album "The Queen Is Dead" by The Smiths.

User Reviews

An excellent Alain Delon stars in a haunting thriller.

This is a little gem. Alain Delon plays a deserted legionnaire who gets hired by the OAS (Organisation de l'armée secrète, which translates to Secret Army Organization, a short-lived French terrorist group) to kidnap a lawyer and hold her prisoner in Algiers for several days. He falls in love with her and helps her to escape. From now on the OAS is after him.

This is a chase film, which starts as a tough thriller and half way through turns into a gripping melodrama which is engaging because of the tender love story which comes to the foreground and slowly starts to get to you.

I recommend this film for fans of slow-paced thrillers and fans of Alain Delon (check out his work in the cult classic Le Samourai) who once again displays his panther-like agility and steely determination. Also watch out for the superb black-and-white cinematography by expert DP Claude Renoir (who later photographed French Connection II). The film makes excellent use of real locations.

I also liked the melancholy feel of the story. The lead character's desire to return home to a place where he once was happy and which now seems so very far away is touching and has always stayed with me since the first time I saw the movie.