The Outside Man (1972)
"Un homme est mort" (original title)

Jean-Louis Trintignant plays a French contract assassin hired by a Los Angeles crime family, ostensibly to perform a hit on some other mafia target. But simultaneously, as he arrives to do ... See full summary »

Director:

Jacques Deray

Writers:

Jean-Claude Carrière (original scenario), Jacques Deray (original scenario),

Stars:

Jean-Louis Trintignant, Ann-Margret, Roy Scheider

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Louis Trintignant	...	Lucien Bellon
Ann-Margret	...	Nancy Robson
Roy Scheider	...	Lenny
Angie Dickinson	...	Jackie Kovacs
Georgia Engel	...	Mrs. Barnes
Felice Orlandi	...	Anderson
Carlo De Mejo	...	Karl
Michel Constantin	...	Antoine
Umberto Orsini	...	Alex
Carmen Argenziano	...	Second Hawk
Rico Cattani	...	Butler
Ted de Corsia	...	Victor
Edward Greenberg	...	Hitchhiker
Philippa Harris	...	Salesgirl
Jackie Earle Haley	...	Eric

Storyline

Jean-Louis Trintignant plays a French contract assassin hired by a Los Angeles crime family, ostensibly to perform a hit on some other mafia target. But simultaneously, as he arrives to do his job, a slaying occurs inside the household of the mob boss supposed to employ him. Suspicion is deliberately cast against Trintignant from within that very family. When he tries to flee the country, he discovers that his passport and luggage have been stolen. From that moment on, Trintignant is on the run from the police and the minions of two different mob families. What makes his escape hazardous is that the real murderer shares all the information known about him to aid in his capture and death.

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Plot Keywords:

mob | assassin | culver city california | hitman | coin operated television set | 

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Italy France USA

Language:

French English

Release Date:

January 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Outside Man

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hilton Hotel - 9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cité Films, General Production Company, Les Productions Artistes Associés

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Jackie Earle Haley, when Jean-Louis Trintignant slaps him in the face, Trintignant really slapped him hard. Two takes were filmed and Trintignant slapped for real both times.

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Connections

References Butterflies Are Free (1972)

User Reviews

Film noir in Los Angeles

Being a native of Los Angeles, it's great a treat to see a overview of the city in 1973 supposedly from the plane to brings Trintignant. There are shots of "The Classic Cat", a club that no longer exists on Sunset Blvd. The chase scene filmed in Venice, CA, are also places that no longer exist as most of the development was still under construction. The music score is by Michel Legrand, whose "Umbrellas in Chernburg" is classic, here a little jarring, maybe intentional. Trintignant plays a hit man from France, who does commit cold blooded murder, so he's a bad guy. Roy Schneider, pre-Jaws, plays an even more gum chewing, sadistic killer after Trintignant.

Ann Magret, at this time, was having a difficult time having just recently lost her father in real life. She plays her part well, but it is unclear why her charactor would go out on a limb for Jean-Louis T., as his charactor treats her with sheer indifference. Angie Dickerson is a 70's babe that gives A.M. competition in the eye candy department.

The shoot out scene at the end of the movieis quite weird, the corpse in the funeral parlor displayed in a sitting position with cigar in hand and Trintigant's cohort being dragged by a hearse through the graveyard.

A 3 out of 5.