Review of Le Samouraï (1967) by Stephen T — 15 May 2015

Hard to believe a film like this made traction in the revolutionary world of cinema circa-1967...but, yet here it is in all of it's minimalist glory. Jean-Pierre Melville "Father of the French New Wave" and director of 1967's Le Samourai wrote and directed this film, which stars Alain Delon as a hit man with the soul of a Ronin, Francois Perier as the lead detective, Nathalie Delon (wife of the actor) as an prostitute alibi, and model-turned-actress Caty Rosier as a reluctant witness.

Melville, a true cineophile, crafted, what is arguably called his masterpiece, Le Samourai from the Hollywood film noir of the 1940s and 1950s. Future audiences of Le Samourai are strongly encouraged to view the Criterion version as it includes very useful extras, such as video interviews with Rui Nogueira, author of Melville on Melville, and Ginette Vincendeau, author of Jean-Pierre Melville: An American in Paris; and archival interviews with Melville and actors Alain Delon, François Périer, Nathalie Delon, and Cathy Rosier.

The gangster story presented in the film is a potent vehicle for Melville to tell his story of lone-wolf masculinity clashing with a modern society who doesn't know how to handle it. Also, watch for the very thin strands of black humor throughout.

Delon plays the title role ritualistic and stoic and fits Melville's style perfectly making Le Samourai the actor's crown jewel in a lifetime of film. At 105 minutes, the film feels longer, not because it is dull, but that it is so light on dialogue it feels like the end may come at any time; this deliberate minimalist approach may prove frustrating to some viewers.

Recommended for students and lovers of 1960s in film, French New Wave, and foreign cinema in general.