Le samouraï (1967)

Director:

Jean-Pierre Melville

Writers:

Jean-Pierre Melville (writer)
Georges Pellegrin (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

25 October 1967 (France)

Genre:

Thriller | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

De kaldte ham Samoraien - den ensomme morder

Plot:

Hitman Jef Costello is a perfectionist who always carefully plans his murders and who never gets caught...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Hitman | Alibi | Tiger | Robbery

Cast

Alain Delon	...	Jef Costello
François Périer	...	The Superintendant
Nathalie Delon	...	Jane Lagrange
Cathy Rosier	...	Valérie, la pianiste (as Caty Rosier)
Jacques Leroy	...	Gunman
Michel Boisrond	...	Wiener
Robert Favart	...	Barkeeper
Jean-Pierre Posier	...	Olivier Rey
Catherine Jourdan	...	Hatcheck Girl
Roger Fradet	...	1st inspector
Carlo Nell	...	2nd inspector
Robert Rondo	...	3d inspector
André Salgues	...	Garage keeper
André Thorent	...	Policeman / cab driver
Jacques Deschamps	...	Policeman
Georges Casati	...	Damolini
Jacques Léonard	...	Garcia (as Jack Léonard)
Pierre Vaudier	...	Policeman
Maurice Magalon	...	Policeman
Gaston Meunier	...	Hotel manager
Jean Gold	...	1st client in nightclub
Georges Billy	...	2nd client in nightclub
Ari Aricardi	...	Poker player
Guy Bonnafoux	...	Poker player (as Bonnafoux)
Humberto Catalano	...	Police inspector (as Catalano)
Carl Lechner	...	Sosie Jef
Maria Maneva	...	Little Girl

Directed by
Jean-Pierre Melville

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Joan McLeod		novel "The Ronin" (uncredited)
Jean-Pierre Melville		writer
Georges Pellegrin		writer

Produced by
Raymond Borderie	....	producer
Eugène Lépicier	....	producer

Original Music by
François de Roubaix

Cinematography by
Henri Decaë		(as Henri Decae)

Film Editing by
Monique Bonnot
Yolande Maurette		(as Yo Maurette)

Production Design by
François de Lamothe		(as François De Lamothe)

Set Decoration by
François de Lamothe		(as François De Lamothe)

Production Management
Georges Casati	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Georges Pellegrin	....	assistant director

Art Department
André Boumedil	....	property master
Robert Christidès	....	set dresser (as Robert Christides)
Théobald Meurisse	....	assistant set decorator (as Theobald Meurisse)
Angelo Rizzi	....	props
Philippe Turlure	....	assistant set decorator

Sound Department
Pierre Davoust	....	assistant sound
René Longuet	....	sound engineer
Robert Pouret	....	sound editor
Alex Pront	....	sound director

Camera and Electrical Department
Jean Charvein	....	camera operator: studio
Jean-Paul Cornu	....	second assistant camera
Henri Decaë	....	camera operator: locations (as Henri Decae)
François Lauliac	....	first assistant camera

Editorial Department
Geneviève Adam	....	assistant editor
Madeleine Bagiau	....	assistant editor
Madeleine Guérin	....	assistant editor
Geneviève Letellier	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Robert Beaulieu	....	furrier
Betty Elvira	....	script girl
Jean Pieuchot	....	general manager

Production Companies

• Compagnie Industrielle et Commerciale Cinématographique (CICC)
• Fida Cinematografica
• Filmel
• TC Productions

Distributors

• S.N. Prodis (1967) (France) (theatrical)
• Artists International (1972) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Criterion Collection, The (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Luna Vídeo (Brazil) (video)
• New Yorker Films (video)

Also Known As:

Frank Costello, faccia d'angelo (Italy)
The Godson (USA)

Runtime:

105 min | USA:101 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Châtelet, Paris Metro, Paris 1, Paris, France

Company:

Compagnie Industrielle et Commerciale Cinématographique (CICC)

Trivia:

The start of the film is completely dialog-free for almost ten minutes. The first word, "Jef?" spoken by Jane Lagrange (Nathalie Delon), comes at the 9:58 mark.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: (At 00:40:45) Jef exits a taxi in the pouring rain, but a clear blue sky can be seen reflected in a foreground car hood and bright sunlight on background buildings.

Quotes:

Superintendant: I don't like forcing the pace to extract confessions or get information. I'm very liberal, a great believer in the liberty of the individual... in people's right to live as they choose. Provided that the way of life they choose harms no one else... and is contrary to neither law and order nor public decency.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Un flic (1972)

The cinematic embodiment of 'Cool'

Jean-Pierre Melville's Le Samourai is the cinematic embodiment of cool. This film is unlike any Hollywood action treatment of a hitman in that it every single movement is treated like a precious gemstone. Alain Delon plays a double crossed assasin who stays one step ahead of the law in what becomes a very smart cat and mouse plot. Delon's character could very well have influenced the loner action hero of the 70's and 80's. Every single movement he makes is done with a cold calculated precision; the way he puts on his hat, smokes a cigarette, and handles a gun. He makes The Fonz look like Roger Rabbit. Dialogue isn't even necessary for a lot of the story. Melville is smart enough to know that movies are about images. The story unfolds in compelling scene after compelling scene. There is also quite a fair bit of sly humour too. Entertaining on many levels. See this!