After professional hitman Jef Costello is seen by witnesses his efforts to provide himself an alibi drive him further into a corner.After professional hitman Jef Costello is seen by witnesses his efforts to provide himself an alibi drive him further into a corner.After professional hitman Jef Costello is seen by witnesses his efforts to provide himself an alibi drive him further into a corner.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
Cathy Rosier
- La pianiste
- (as Caty Rosier)
Jacques Léonard
- Garcia
- (as Jack Léonard)
- Director
- Writers
- Jean-Pierre Melville
- Joan McLeod(uncredited)
- Georges Pellegrin
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen Jean-Pierre Melville brought a copy of the script to Alain Delon, Delon asked him what the title was. When he was told the title was "Le samouraï", Delon had Melville follow him to his bedroom, where there was only a leather couch and a samurai blade hanging on the wall. Melville had written the screenplay with Delon expressly in mind for the lead.
- GoofsThe streets change from bone dry to soaking wet and raining when Jef flees from the female undercover cop in the Paris Metro.
- Quotes
[hitman enters the room of the bar owner]
Martey, Nightclub Owner: Who are you?
Jeff Costello: Doesn't matter.
Martey, Nightclub Owner: What do you want?
Jeff Costello: To kill you.
[shoots him]
- Crazy creditsThe movie's Opening Credits include an epigraph: " "There is no solitude greater than a samurai's, unless perhaps it is that of a tiger in the jungle." - The Book of Bushido."
- Alternate versionsThe West German theatrical version was cut by approximately eight minutes.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Zomergasten: Episode #10.3 (1997)
- SoundtracksLe Samouraï
Written and Performed by François de Roubaix Et Orchestre
Featured review
Melville's Masterpiece
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.
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.
helpful•11741
- riskbreaker113
- Oct 31, 2005
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Le Samurai
- Filming locations
- 11 Boulevard de l'Amiral Bruix, Paris 16, Paris, France(Jane's apartment)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $155,763
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $14,899
- Mar 31, 2024
- Gross worldwide
- $155,763
- Runtime1 hour 41 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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