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IMDbPro

The Professional

Original title: Le professionnel
  • 19811981
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
15K
YOUR RATING
Jean-Paul Belmondo in The Professional (1981)
Watch ’Bande-annonce [OV]’
Play trailer2:06
1 Video
98 Photos
  • Action
  • Crime
  • Drama
Victim of a plot which has resulted in his imprisonment in a Central African jail for two years, a French secret agent arrives in Paris to settle accounts.Victim of a plot which has resulted in his imprisonment in a Central African jail for two years, a French secret agent arrives in Paris to settle accounts.Victim of a plot which has resulted in his imprisonment in a Central African jail for two years, a French secret agent arrives in Paris to settle accounts.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
15K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Georges Lautner
  • Writers
    • Patrick Alexander(novel "Death of a Thin-Skinned Animal")
    • Georges Lautner(adaptation)
    • Jacques Audiard(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Jean-Paul Belmondo
    • Jean Desailly
    • Cyrielle Clair
Top credits
  • Director
    • Georges Lautner
  • Writers
    • Patrick Alexander(novel "Death of a Thin-Skinned Animal")
    • Georges Lautner(adaptation)
    • Jacques Audiard(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Jean-Paul Belmondo
    • Jean Desailly
    • Cyrielle Clair
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 54User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Bande-annonce [OV]
    Trailer 2:06
    Bande-annonce [OV]

    Photos98

    Advance, A0 movie poster - 84 x 118 cm or 33 x 46 inches
    The Professional (1981)
    The Burglars (1971)
    The Professional (1981)
    The Professional (1981)
    The Professional (1981)
    The Professional (1981)
    The Professional (1981)
    The Professional (1981)
    The Professional (1981)
    The Professional (1981)
    The Professional (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jean-Paul Belmondo
    Jean-Paul Belmondo
    • Josselin Beaumont dit 'Joss'as Josselin Beaumont dit 'Joss'
    Jean Desailly
    Jean Desailly
    • Le ministreas Le ministre
    Cyrielle Clair
    Cyrielle Clair
    • Alice Ancelinas Alice Ancelin
    • (as Cyrielle Claire)
    Marie-Christine Descouard
    • Doris Frederiksenas Doris Frederiksen
    Elisabeth Margoni
    Elisabeth Margoni
    • Jeanne Baumontas Jeanne Baumont
    Jean-Louis Richard
    Jean-Louis Richard
    • Le colonel Martinas Le colonel Martin
    Michel Beaune
    Michel Beaune
    • Le capitaine Edouard Valerasas Le capitaine Edouard Valeras
    Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu
    Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu
    • L'inspecteur Fargesas L'inspecteur Farges
    • (as Bernard Donnadieu)
    Pierre Saintons
    • Le président N'Jalaas Le président N'Jala
    Gérard Darrieu
    Gérard Darrieu
    • L'instructeur Picardas L'instructeur Picard
    Sidiki Bakaba
    • Le prisonnier évadéas Le prisonnier évadé
    Baaron
    • Le président du tribunalas Le président du tribunal
    Robert Hossein
    Robert Hossein
    • Le commissaire Rosenas Le commissaire Rosen
    Dany Kogan
    • Le sergent Gruberas Le sergent Gruber
    Marc Lamole
    • Le serveur d'hôtelas Le serveur d'hôtel
    Jacques Canselier
    • Le petit homme aux fleursas Le petit homme aux fleurs
    Bernard Marcellin
    • Le premier agent du service secretas Le premier agent du service secret
    Jean-Claude Bouillaud
    • Le deuxième agent du service secretas Le deuxième agent du service secret
    • Director
      • Georges Lautner
    • Writers
      • Patrick Alexander(novel "Death of a Thin-Skinned Animal")
      • Georges Lautner(adaptation)
      • Jacques Audiard(adaptation)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Ennio Morricone's musical theme "Chi Mai" was composed for Maddalena (1971). The song was completely re-recorded in 1978 for the single "Disco '78" with heavier drums and in a different key. After hearing this version on the radio, Jean-Paul Belmondo was so impressed that he suggested it should be put into the soundtrack of his film. Ultimately, the record of this musical score was not only more successful than its initial release but came to be one of Morricone's bestselling work. The music was used again in the 80s for a Royal Canin commercial (a dog food brand) featuring slow-motion running dogs, and this became so famous that most people now associate "Chi Mai" with the commercial. It was even spoofed in Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002). When a national tribute for Belmondo was held right after his death in 2021 in the Hôtel des Invalides, "Chi Mai" was played.
    • Goofs
      When the tramps reach the car with the policemen inside, one of the tramps destroys a bottle on the roof of the car, so the roof gets wet and there are lots of glass splinters on it. In various shots after, the roof is completely clean again.
    • Connections
      Featured in Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Le Vent, Le Cri
      Composed by Ennio Morricone

      Directed by Ennio Morricone

      Published by Général Music France

    User reviews54

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Too bad they don't make them anymore
    A tailor-made vehicle for Belmondo, out-Burting Burt Reynolds in this action flick with non-stop action. The whole thing is laughable thirty years later because we are used to Bourne Identities coming out of our fannies, but this is how they made films before CGI and mega budgets: a charming star, an excellent ensemble cast, well-motivated action, and a relatively tight script. Okay, it's cheesy by modern standards, but one must remember French politics re. Africa (remember Bokassa? The French do) and mercenaries. It makes more sense to the French, and certainly didn't export well. But you can nonetheless see why Belmondo could get away with a certain wink at the camera Burt smarminess, because he always played it with a touch of comedy, and he was way more charming than Burt ever was. ALthough you can read this film as played for laughs, at the time it's plot was believable, and the cold-hearted treatment of citizens by government forces is certainly more than believable to Europeans. Watch it and enjoy. How many low budget action films stand up 30 years later? This one does, and the subtitling is pretty good.
    helpful•9
    3
    • GLanoue
    • Feb 10, 2011

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 21, 1981 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Language
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Der Profi
    • Filming locations
      • Camargue, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
    • Production companies
      • Cerito Films
      • Les Films Ariane
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • FRF 20,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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