Alphaville, une étrange aventure de Lemmy Caution (1965)

Director:

Jean-Luc Godard

Writer:

Jean-Luc Godard (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

5 May 1965 (France)

Genre:

Mystery | Sci-Fi | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Suddenly the word is Alphaville... and a secret agent is in a breathless race against the Masters of the Future.

Plot:

Lemmy Caution, an American private-eye, arrives in Alphaville, a futuristic city on another planet....

Plot Keywords:

Lemmy Caution | Comic Violence | Ford Mustang | Future | Metropolis

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Eddie Constantine	...	Lemmy Caution
Anna Karina	...	Natacha von Braun
Akim Tamiroff	...	Henri Dickson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Valérie Boisgel	...	(uncredited)
Jean-Louis Comolli	...	Prof. Jeckell (uncredited)
Michel Delahaye	...	von Braun's Assassistant (uncredited)
Jean-André Fieschi	...	Prof. Heckell (uncredited)
Christa Lang	...	(uncredited)
Jean-Pierre Léaud	...	(uncredited)
László Szabó	...	Chief Engineer (uncredited)
Howard Vernon	...	Prof. Leonard Nosferatu aka von Braun (uncredited)

Directed by
Jean-Luc Godard

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Paul Éluard		poem "Capitale de la douleur" (uncredited)
Jean-Luc Godard		screenplay and dialogue

Produced by
André Michelin	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Paul Misraki

Cinematography by
Raoul Coutard

Film Editing by
Agnès Guillemot

Production Design by
Pierre Guffroy		(uncredited)

Production Management
Philippe Dussart	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles L. Bitsch	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Hélène Kalougine	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Jean-Pierre Léaud	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Jean-Paul Savignac	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
René Levert	....	sound (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Georges Liron	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Georges Pierre	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Athos Films
• Chaumiane
• Filmstudio (co-production)

Distributors

• Elan Films (1965) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Connoisseur Film Ltd. (1966) (UK) (theatrical)
• Athos Films
• Continental Home Vídeo (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (1995) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Criterion Collection, The (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Janus Films (USA)
• Mundial Filmes (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Palace Video (1983) (UK) (VHS)
• Pathé Contemporary Films (USA) (subtitled)
• Raro Video (2008) (Italy) (DVD) (box set)

Also Known As:

Agente Lemmy Caution, missione Alphaville (Italy)
Alphaville (France)
Alphaville, a Strange Adventure of Lemmy Caution
Alphaville, a Strange Case of Lemmy Caution
Dick Tracy on Mars (USA) (informal title)
Tarzan vs. IBM (France) (working title)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Brazil:12 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16 (w) | South Korea:15 | Peru:14 | UK:12A (re-rating) (2005) | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1994)

Filming Locations:

EDF building, Paris 12, Paris, France

Company:

Athos Films

Trivia:

Professors Heckel and Jeckell are named after the cartoon birds "Heckle and Jeckle", created by U.S. animator Paul Terry (of "Terrytoons" fame).

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: After Lemmy has shot Professor Vonbraun, he runs down a staircase and throws open a glass door. As he does so, the reflection of the cameraman can be seen clearly in the door.

Quotes:

Alpha 60: What is your religion?
Lemmy Caution: I believe in the inspirations of conscience.

Movie Connections:

References "The Heckle and Jeckle Show" (1956)

My brief review of the film

An excessively weird although constantly engaging futuristic film, there is plenty to enjoy in it, even though it is a bit hard to understand. Godard makes brilliant use of shadows and lighting to set up a scary atmosphere, and negative images are used effectively throughout to create a sense of awe and provide a feeling of a foreign environment. The sets are very creative, taken from existing buildings in France, and the music used throughout the film fits in delightfully. At times the film bears a bit too much resemblance to Orwell's '1984' to stand on its own two feet, and there might be a few other problems for the nit-picky, but I simply found this to be a fascinating and well made film, and it definitely comes recommended if you simply feel like watching something different for a change.