Mr. Klein (1976)

Director:

Joseph Losey

Writers:

Fernando Morandi (collaborator on screenplay)
Franco Solinas (written by)

Release Date:

23 September 1976 (Italy)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller | War

Plot:

Paris, 1942. Robert Klein cannot find any fault with the state of affairs in German-occupied France...

Plot Keywords:

Jew | Law | Police | France | Grandmother Grandson Relationship

Awards:

3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Alain Delon	...	Mr. Klein
Jeanne Moreau	...	Florence
Francine Bergé	...	Nicole (as Francine Berge)
Juliet Berto	...	Jeanine
Jean Bouise	...	Le vendeur
Suzanne Flon	...	La concierge
Massimo Girotti	...	Charles
Michael Lonsdale	...	Pierre (as Michel Lonsdale)
Michel Aumont	...	Le fonctionnaire de la préfecture
Roland Bertin	...	L'administrateur du journal
Jean Champion	...	Le gardien de la morgue
Etienne Chicot	...	Un policier
Magali Clément	...	Lola (as Magali Clement)
Gérard Jugnot	...	Le photographe
Hermine Karagheuz	...	La jeune ouvrière

Also Known As:

Mr. Klein (UK) (USA)
Chi è Mr. Klein? (Italy)
Monsieur Klein (France) (DVD title)
Mr Klein (USA) (video title)

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Iceland:L | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company:

Adel Productions

Soundtrack:

PREMIER RENDEZ-VOUS

Mr. Losey and Mr. Delon at Their Best

For many of those who have seen all of Joseph Losey's significant films, MR. KLEIN is the greatest after THE SERVANT. Some even call MR. KLEIN Losey's finest achievement. It's telling of our fragmented film culture that such an accomplished work of art remains unknown, even to many serious film buffs. For years, we had to settle for an English-dubbed, panned & scanned VHS tape. But the greatness of MR. KLEIN showed through even that medium.

Now the film is available on a high-quality DVD. The transfer is very fine, with the broad color palette ringing out. And the widescreen aspect of the film can be appreciated by many who have never seen it look so good.

MR. KLEIN is a work of which its director should have been proud. It's intelligent, intriguing, moving, funny, and beautiful. Like THE SERVANT, it has at its center an ambiguous hero by whom one is, at turns, repelled and attracted.

This may also be the greatest acting achievement of Alain Delon. The charismatic French actor's still-stunning good looks sometimes can distract from appreciating his genuine talent. Delon probably never gave a bad performance in any film. But MR. KLEIN provides him with a wide range and depth that he is more than capable of handling. It's mostly a quiet performance, with few outbursts. Delon is required to react, which he does brilliantly at several points, or to express the meaning of scene through posture and facial expression alone. One subtle example is the scene early on, where the mistress is on the bed in the background, wondering if she should get up. Delon is seated at his desk, half-listening to her trivialities. He has far more pressing issues on his mind. The actor perfectly conveys the ambivalent, trapped situation through small body gestures and tone of voice. When he finally rises to address the mistress's concerns, his forced tone is also exactly right for the moment. Later, Delon plays Klein's mixture of desperation and arrogance with so much conviction, it's easy to forget he is, after all, acting.

MR. KLEIN is a film of rich interiors, and eye-catching, but not ostentatious, location shooting. It looks tremendous on DVD and it can leave the viewer devastated, but undeniably impressed by the genius of Joseph Losey and Alain Delon.