THE SAMURAI (LE SAMOURAI) BY JEAN-PIERRE MELVILLE

The story of The Samurai by Jean - Pierre Melville is about a Costello who is a free agent hitman and a perfectionist in his act. Costello has no criminal records because of his ability to leave no witness or sign behind a murder. But despite his keen attention in details he leaves the place of murder of a nightclub owner Martey with many people seeing him including the beautiful pianist. Insufficient records fail to prove him as the criminal although the police knew the fact. But Costello gradually finds himself in a troublesome situation with the police and employees after him.

The film shows the ups and downs, the unavoidable problems and circumstances, the emotional turmoil in Costello's life after the murder of Martey. The film ends with a sorrowful ending when Costello is shot to death by the policemen. The soundtrack by Francois De Roubaix matches with the theme of the film effectively. The excellent cinematography is done by Henri Decae.



Key casts are Alain Delon as Jef Costello, Nathalie Delon as Jane and Francois Perier as the Police Superintendent.

10 Reasons you should watch The Samurai:

1. The Samurai is one of the best French thrillers and a masterpiece by Pierre Melville.
2. Hong kong director John Woo was heavily influenced by the plot of The Samurai. In his movie The Killer Chow's character was inspired by Jef.
3. Walter Hill's thriller is also said to have been influenced by The Samurai.
4. Jim Jarmusch's crime drama Ghost Dog is to pay homage to The Samurai.
5. The French movie is critically acclaimed all over the world.
6. Alain Delon is excellent as Jef.
7. The Samurai is one of the top French movies ever made.
8. The Samurai can be ranked under top 100 foreign films.
9. If you love action and thrillers then Jean Pierre's The Samurai is a must watch for you.
10. This one of the top French language movies once again proves the greatness of Pierre as a director.

I also recommend you to watch these two movies:

1. The Silence of The Sea - Another film by Jean - Pierre, it talks about the relationship of Frenchman and his niece with a German lieutenant who stayed in their house at the time of German occupation of France.

2. Second Breath - Directed by Jean - Pierre, the film is about a gangster escaping from jail and getting involved in a gangland killing.

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Jean-Pierre Melville (20 October 1917 - 2 August 1973) was a French filmmaker. Born Jean-Pierre Grumbach, he later adopted the pseudonym Melville as a tribute to his favorite American author, Herman Melville.

Born in Paris, France, Melville, who was an Alsatian Jew, served in World War II and fought in Operation Dragoon. When he returned from the war he applied for a license to become an assistant director, but was refused. Without this support, he decided to direct his films by his own means.

1945 Twenty-four hours in the life of a clown
1949 The Silence of the Sea
1950 The Terrible Children
1953 When You Read This Letter
1955 Bob the Gambler
1959 Two Men in Manhattan
1961 Leon Morin, Priest
1962 Doulos: The Finger Man
1963 Magnet of Doom
1966 Second Breath
1967 The Samourai
1969 Army of Shadows
1970 The Red Circle
1972 Dirty Money

Vagabond is a 1985 drama film directed by Agnes Varda, featuring Sandrine Bonnaire. It describes the story of a young woman, a vagabond, who is found frozen in a ditch.

Director: Agnès Varda, Cast: Sandrine Bonnaire, Setti Ramdane


Rocco and His Brothers is a 1960 Italian and French film directed by Luchino Visconti. Set in Milan, it tells the story of an immigrant family from the South and its disintegration in the society of the industrial North. A great saga that belongs to my list of best foreign films without reservation.

Shoot the Piano Player is a 1960 French film directed by Francois Truffaut, starring Charles Aznavour. Wow! This should be in any Top 100 Foreign Films list, no exception!

Director: François Truffaut, Cast: Charles Aznavour, Marie Dubois


Diary of a Country Priest is a 1951 French film directed by Robert Bresson, and starring Claude Laydu. It was closely based on the novel of the same name by Georges Bernanos. It tells the story of a young, sickly priest, who has just arrived in his first parish, a village in northern France.

Belle de jour is a 1967 French film starring Catherine Deneuve as a woman who decides to spend her days as a prostitute while her husband is at work. A terrific creation, this will adorn any list of best foreign language films.
Director: Luis Buñuel, Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Jean Sorel


Mon Oncle is a 1958 film comedy by French filmmaker Jacques Tati. The first of Tati's films to be released in colour, Mon Oncle won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, a Special Prize at the 1958 Cannes Film Festival, and the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Foreign Language Film, receiving more honors than any of Tati's other cinematic works.

Contempt (French: Le Mepris) is a 1963 film directed by Jean-Luc Godard. A must see for anyone who wants to explore the Top 100 Foreign Films of all times.

Director: Jean-Luc Godard, Cast: Brigitte Bardot, Michel Piccoli


My Favorite Season is a 1993 French drama film directed by Andre Techine. The story concerns a matriarch Berthe (Marthe Villalonga) who goes to live with her daughter Emilie (Catherine Deneuve) and her family. It won the award for Best Foreign Language Films at the 1996 Boston Society of Film Critics Awards.

Breathless is a 1960 film directed by Jean-Luc Godard. Godard's first feature-length film is among the inaugural films of the French New Wave and came straight into my list of Top Foreign Films. It derived from a scenario by fellow New Wave director, Francois Truffaut, and the film was released the year after Truffaut's The 400 Blows and Alain Resnais's Hiroshima, Mon Amour.

The Butcher is a 1970 French drama / thriller film written and directed by Claude Chabrol. Helene is a confident, slightly naive young teacher who is adored by her pupils at the school where she works and lives. She meets the local butcher, Popaul, at a wedding ceremony, and they strike up a close but platonic relationship.

Beauty and the Beast is a 1946 French romantic fantasy film. The plot of Cocteau's film revolves around Belle's father who is sentenced to death for picking a rose from Beast's garden.

Director: Jean Cocteau, Cast: Jean Marais, Josette Day


The 400 Blows is a 1959 French film directed by Francois Truffaut. One of the defining films of the French New Wave, it displays many of the characteristic traits of the movement. The story revolves around Antoine Doinel, an ordinary adolescent in Paris, who is thought by his parents and teachers to be a trouble maker.

The Samurai is a 1967 French minimalist crime drama/thriller film directed by French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Melville. The film's protagonist Jef Costello is played by Alain Delon. You will find this film in any sensible best foreign movies list.


Forbidden Games is a 1952 French language film directed by Rene Clement and based on Francois Boyer's novel, Jeux interdits. It has a very unique place in my best foreign films list.