Le Samoura is an 1967 movie by Jean Paul Melville. It tells the story of a hitman played by Alain Delon who is moody, sinister, a blank slate really. It is mostly about style although there are some good sequences-well, a lot really. It is considered neo-noir. I wonder when noir ended and neo noir began. I guess this was the film that made Delon and his wife plays his girlfriend. But the fabulous Cathy Rosier as a nighclub piano player was the more memorable woman in the film. This is so much more mood than dialog it was a long time before we had to read subtitles. On finishing the film, I was not overly impressed but a day later, I think it was pretty terrific. And I may not have come to that conclusion if I hadn't decided to write this up. You can watch it for Delon's gorgeous eyes if nothing else.
I like Delon but I must admit I've never seen this one. But he was certainly known for years before this one - PURPLE NOON, ROCCO AND HIS BROTHERS, THE LEOPARD, etc.
ReplyDeleteHaving subscribed to FILMSTRUCK, they have about eight of Melville's movies to watch. I have seen PURPLE NOON, but not a lot else.
ReplyDeleteOh, this looks interesting, Patti! I have to admit I've not heard of it before...
ReplyDeleteSounds intriguing. I'll track it down.
ReplyDeleteGeorge, THE SAMURAI is the American title.
ReplyDeleteA favorite of mine. I'm a big fan of Melville. Le Cercle Rouge is probably his best film after Le Samouri.
ReplyDeleteIf you like old films and foreign films Film Struck/Criterion is worth the $100 a year.
ReplyDeleteNoir films pretty much trail off as the more brightly-lit, less shadowy b&W and, of course, color films came in in the 1950s. Nothing too noirish but the subtexts of ANATOMY OF A MURDER, for example.
ReplyDeleteLe Samouraï...a lot of dropping the Is and As in references here.
Love that film: maybe my favourite Delon. Great Criterion edition.
ReplyDeletePatti – Melville’s pictures creep up on you. For crime films, they are quiet, mannered, and not very suspenseful. But they stick in your memory and keep you thinking. I am quite a fan of his work.
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