Le samouraï (1967)

Director:

Jean-Pierre Melville

Writers:

Jean-Pierre Melville (writer)
Georges Pellegrin (writer)

Release Date:

25 October 1967 (France)

Genre:

Thriller | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

De kaldte ham Samoraien - den ensomme morder

Plot:

Hitman Jef Costello is a perfectionist who always carefully plans his murders and who never gets caught...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Hitman | Alibi | Tiger | Robbery

Cast

Alain Delon	...	Jef Costello
François Périer	...	The Superintendant
Nathalie Delon	...	Jane Lagrange
Cathy Rosier	...	Valérie, la pianiste (as Caty Rosier)
Jacques Leroy	...	Gunman
Michel Boisrond	...	Wiener
Robert Favart	...	Barkeeper
Jean-Pierre Posier	...	Olivier Rey
Catherine Jourdan	...	Hatcheck Girl
Roger Fradet	...	1st inspector
Carlo Nell	...	2nd inspector
Robert Rondo	...	3d inspector
André Salgues	...	Garage keeper
André Thorent	...	Policeman / cab driver
Jacques Deschamps	...	Policeman

Also Known As:

Frank Costello, faccia d'angelo (Italy)
The Godson (USA)

Runtime:

105 min | USA:101 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Châtelet, Paris Metro, Paris 1, Paris, France

Company:

Compagnie Industrielle et Commerciale Cinématographique (CICC)

Trivia:

When director Jean-Pierre Melville brought a copy of the script to Alain Delon, Delon asked him what the title was. When he was told the title was Le Samourai, Delon had Melville follow him to his bedroom, where there was only a leather couch and a samurai blade hanging on the wall.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When rounding up suspects the inspector refers to the population as 10 million. The 1968 population of Paris city proper was only 2.6 million. The population of the urban area was only 8.2 million.

Quotes:

[pulls a gun on her, she just looks disappointed]
Valérie: Why Jeff?
Jeff Costello: I've been paid to.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Solo quiero caminar (2008)

The cinematic embodiment of 'Cool'

Jean-Pierre Melville's Le Samourai is the cinematic embodiment of cool. This film is unlike any Hollywood action treatment of a hitman in that it every single movement is treated like a precious gemstone. Alain Delon plays a double crossed assasin who stays one step ahead of the law in what becomes a very smart cat and mouse plot. Delon's character could very well have influenced the loner action hero of the 70's and 80's. Every single movement he makes is done with a cold calculated precision; the way he puts on his hat, smokes a cigarette, and handles a gun. He makes The Fonz look like Roger Rabbit. Dialogue isn't even necessary for a lot of the story. Melville is smart enough to know that movies are about images. The story unfolds in compelling scene after compelling scene. There is also quite a fair bit of sly humour too. Entertaining on many levels. See this!