The Assassination (1972)
"L'attentat" (original title)

Sadiel, rebel leader in a North African state, takes refuge in Switzerland in the aftermath of a coup. Aware of the threat posed by Sadiel, the ruthless Colonel Kassar contacts the French ... See full summary »

Director:

Yves Boisset

Writers:

Ben Barzman (original scenario), Basilio Franchina (original scenario),

Stars:

Jean-Louis Trintignant, Michel Piccoli, Jean Seberg

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Louis Trintignant	...	François Darien - un intellectuel instable
Michel Piccoli	...	Le colonel kassar - le ministre de l'intérieur d'un pays du maghreb
Jean Seberg	...	Edith Lemoine - une infirmière gauchiste
Gian Maria Volonté	...	Sadiel - un leader progresste maghrebin
Michel Bouquet	...	Maïtre Lempereur - un avocat corrompu
Bruno Cremer	...	Maître Michel Vigneau - l'avocat de Sadiel
Daniel Ivernel	...	Antoine Acconetti - un truand
Philippe Noiret	...	Pierre Garcin - le responsable de l'information à l'ORTF
François Périer	...	Le commissaire René Rouannat - un flic honnête
Roy Scheider	...	Michael Howard - uncorrespondant de la TV américaine
Jacques François	...	Lestienne - le chef des services secrets français
Jean Bouise	...	Un policier français haut placé qui couvre l'affaire
Denis Manuel	...	Azam - un étudiant maghrebin
Marc Mazza
Jacques Richard

Storyline

Sadiel, rebel leader in a North African state, takes refuge in Switzerland in the aftermath of a coup. Aware of the threat posed by Sadiel, the ruthless Colonel Kassar contacts the French security services to help in capturing the political activist. A police informer, Darien, is forced to lure Sadiel to Paris, allegedly to make a television coverage about the Third World. Arriving in Paris, Sadiel is captured and delivered to his opponents. Disgusted by the way he has been manipulated, Darien tries to turn back the clock, unknowing who's dealing with.

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Plot Keywords:

based on true story

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Genres:

Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

France Italy West Germany

Language:

French

Release Date:

4 October 1972 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The French Conspiracy

Filming Locations:

Orly Airport, Orly, Val-de-Marne, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

AMLF, Corona Filmproduktion, Sancrosiap

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

User Reviews

The French Conspiracy

Perhaps it's because the version of this film I saw was only 93 minutes and dubbed into English, but this French/Italian/German spy thriller is doomed by a screenplay and a director that never clarifies the parties concerned. Whilst references are made to Algeria, the Black Panthers, Communists, students, French police and Secret Service, the CIA, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Vietnam, and even the Gestapo, since the political allegiances are obtuse, it's hard to care about a kidnapping or a protagonist on the run.

Roy Scheider's presence is presumably for the American market, and though he has what amounts to a cameo, he at least appears to be speaking in his own voice - even with bad lip-synching. A brunette and dubbed Jean Seberg has more screen time. She even gets a tender moment with an extreme close-up, but her role remains thankless, for the most part, and she isn't particularly good in what she has to do.

The only suggestion of humor in the whole treatment is the convenient appearance of a tram and a bus to rescue Jean-Louis Trintignant from two different chases.

Director Yves Boisset stages a riot with convincing mob pandemonium, and presents a tracking shot of a wall of phone tappers. There are two good edits - one from flying wild birds to pellet shooting, and the other from Scheider on the phone saying "Of course I'm not going to tell anyone" to the conversation being tapped. The discordant music of Ennio Morricone is a good addition to the chase scenes, however a stabbing uses orange colored blood, and the New Year's Eve setting is never exploited.