Band of Outsiders (1964)

Two crooks with a fondness for old Hollywood B-movies convince a languages student to help them commit a robbery.

Director:

Jean-Luc Godard (as Cinéma)

Writer:

Dolores Hitchens (novel)

Stars:

Anna Karina, Claude Brasseur, Danièle Girard

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Anna Karina	...	Odile
Danièle Girard	...	English Teacher
Louisa Colpeyn	...	Madame Victoria
Chantal Darget	...	Arthur's Aunt
Sami Frey	...	Franz
Claude Brasseur	...	Arthur
Georges Staquet	...	Legionary
Ernest Menzer	...	Arthur's Uncle
Jean-Claude Rémoleux	...	L'élève buveur d'alcool
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michel Delahaye	...	Le portier
Louis Jojot	...	(as Monsieur Jojot)
Claude Makovski	...	Pupil
Michèle Seghers	...	Student in English Class

Storyline

A triangle: Franz, Arthur, and Odile. Franz, a young man with Alain Delon good looks, has met Odile in an English class. She lives in Joinville with wealthy benefactors and has mentioned to Franz that Mr. Stolz keeps a pile of 10,000 franc notes unlocked in his room. Franz tells his friend Arthur, a swarthy guy whose shady uncle is pressing him for money. Arthur and Franz, who mimic American movie tough guys, case Odile's house, pressure her to assist them with a burglary, and make passes at her as well. She's alternately compliant and distressed. Will they pull off the heist?

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Plot Keywords:

burglary | the madison dance | french new wave | love triangle | nouvelle vague | 

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Taglines:

A Who-Dunit, Who's Got-It, Where-Is-It-Now Wild One From That "Breathless" director Jean-Luc Godard!

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Odile refers to dancing at 'Mimi Pinson's'. 'Mimi Pinson' was a fictional character in a book by Alfred de Musset, 'Mademoiselle Mimi Pinson: Profil de grisette'. It is likely her name was appropriated for the name of a dance hall/ café. It has links to Odile's character in that Mimi Pinson was a grisette, a term used to define independent young women who were adventurous and lived only for moment.

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Goofs

During the first attempt at the robbery, Franz and Arthur are wearing Odile's stockings as masks. When chasing her around the house, the stockings disappear.

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Quotes

Odile: No, he doesn't come to English class anymore. He says England is done for. He's learning Chinese.

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Crazy Credits

For the last time (?) on the screen Music by Michel Legrand

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Connections

Referenced in The Dreamers (2003)

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Soundtracks

Les Parapluies de Cherbourg
(uncredited)
Music by Michel Legrand

User Reviews

Amazing Film

This is a very rich and entertaining work. The plot revolves around two men and a woman who decide to rob the employer of the woman's aunt. However, Godard uses this slender plot as an excuse to riff on a wide spectrum of subjects. The would-be criminals run around, dance, recite newspapers stories to each other and have pretend shoot-outs.

This film is a lot of fun. Watch out for the celebrated dance sequence in the cafe and the scene where the three hold a minutes silence and all the noise on the soundtrack is cut off for the duration.

Acting wise, the film is stolen by the lovely Anna Karina (who was Godard's wife at the time) as the sweet, vague woman at the centre of the trio. Godard himself does the voice-over narration relating the story.

Filmed on the cold, de-glamorised streets of urban Paris, the film has a spontaneous feel that adds a lot to the exhilarating feel of the whole work.

This film is a charming, fun and suspense filled picture from one of the world's most interesting film-makers.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French English

Release Date:

5 August 1964 (France)

Also Known As:

Band of Outsiders

Filming Locations:

Place Clichy, Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

$120,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$28,656, 19 August 2001

Gross USA:

$66,660

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$106,074

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Films, Anouchka Films, Orsay Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1