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IMDb > Le samouraï (1967)
Le samouraï
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Le samouraï (1967) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
8.1/10   9,573 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writers:
Contact:
View company contact information for The Godson on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
25 October 1967 (France) more
Genre:
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... more | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Comments:
Melville's Masterpiece more (56 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Frank Costello, faccia d'angelo (Italy)
The Godson (USA)
more
Runtime:
105 min | USA:101 min
Country:
Language:
Colour:
Colour (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

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. more
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. more
Quotes:
Olivier Rey's associate: He's a lone wolf.
Olivier Rey: He's a wounded wolf; now there will be a trail. He must be disposed of quickly.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Un flic (1972) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
27 out of 36 people found the following comment useful.
Melville's Masterpiece, 31 October 2005
10/10
Author: riskbreaker113 from United States

I just recently saw this film for the first time (a la Criterion) and I was completely blown away. This film can be summed up with a single word: minimalism.

This is a work of true cinema. Hollywood tends to forget that cinema is first and foremost a visual art. Le Samurai is a film that could've been made as a silent movie. The director establishes meaning not with dialog but with the best tools available to a director; editing, mise en scenes, cinematography and composition. There is a constant feeling of solitude and isolation. Even when the protagonist finds himself in large groups, his face is pale, his eyes are cast downward and he is still a constant outsider.

On another note, the film looks surprisingly modern. There's none of the graininess of many other 60s and 70s films. Rather, the lighting and the whole visual aesthetic is pitch perfect, from the black and white nightclub (dualism) to the sparse gray apartment to the subterranean eeriness of the Paris subway.

Personally, I would not recommend this film to people not interested in real cinema, people who like 'movies' rather than 'film', simply because there's a strong possibility it will seem extremely annoying and boring to you. On the other hand, if you're a fan of serious cinema, do yourself a favor and watch this film.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (56 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Le samouraï (1967)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
other films like this/cercle rouge? silver_surfer74
Ending. Cobra12
Possible plotholes that have been bugging me!! kereyv-1
Criterion should pick this film up (nm) FranktheRabbit
Always amazed when I enjoy films this old MrMarch
Cuts within shots pkveloz
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