Le Samouraï, directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, is a masterclass in minimalist storytelling, existential aesthetics, and noir filmmaking. This 1967 French-Italian crime thriller is considered one of the most influential works in cinema history, especially in the genre of hitman dramas. With its silent, calculated anti-hero and icy Parisian backdrop, the film continues to inspire directors from Jim Jarmusch to John Woo.
Detailed Summary
Introduction: The Code of the Assassin
The film opens with a stark quote: “There is no solitude greater than a samurai’s, unless it is that of a tiger in the jungle… perhaps.” From the outset, we’re introduced to Jef Costello (played by Alain Delon), a solitary hitman who lives by his own unspoken code. Jef is quiet, methodical, and lives in a gray, bare apartment with only a bird in a cage for company. His entire life appears to be structured around precision and detachment.
The Hit
Jef is contracted to kill the owner of a nightclub. He carries out the job with chilling professionalism, slipping in and out under a false alibi. But the police move quickly, rounding up suspects, including Jef. Though he’s picked out in a lineup by several witnesses, inconsistencies and his carefully built alibi lead to his release.
One witness stands out—Valérie, a Black nightclub pianist who clearly recognizes Jef but chooses not to identify him. Her motives become one of the film’s lingering mysteries.
The Investigation Tightens
Despite being freed, Jef is not in the clear. The police, especially the unnamed detective (played by François Périer), remain suspicious and place Jef under constant surveillance. Meanwhile, the people who hired Jef begin to see him as a liability. They try to kill him, but Jef survives and sets out to find who betrayed him.
This portion of the film becomes a quiet chess match between Jef, the police, and his employers. We follow his meticulously planned movements as he evades both sides and seeks answers.
A Study in Isolation and Identity
Throughout the film, Jef’s world feels empty and dislocated. The city is gray, the people are silent, and even his only emotional tie—a casual romantic relationship with a woman named Jane—feels distant. The movie leans heavily on mood and stillness, using silence as a narrative tool.
Movie Ending
In the final act, Jef prepares for one last act—his own end. He returns to the same nightclub where he performed the earlier hit. He approaches the stage where Valérie is playing piano, pulls a gun on her, and is immediately shot and killed by the police, who had been waiting in ambush.
But here’s the twist: his gun wasn’t loaded. Jef had removed the bullets.
The meaning of this ending has sparked debate for decades. Was Jef trying to force Valérie’s hand? Was he making a final statement—suicide by police? Or was he delivering a form of retribution, choosing to die on his own terms, denying both the police and his employers control over his fate?
It’s a poetic, fatalistic conclusion: the lone samurai, cornered by a world of rules and betrayal, ends his path with deliberate self-sacrifice.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Le Samouraï does not contain any post-credits scenes. As a product of 1960s European cinema, it ends with a hard cut after the final scene, in keeping with its sparse, minimalist aesthetic.
Type of Movie
Le Samouraï is best described as a neo-noir crime thriller. It incorporates strong elements of French New Wave, existentialism, and minimalist cinema. The tone is meditative, cold, and steeped in suspense.
Cast
- Alain Delon as Jef Costello
- François Périer as the Police Inspector
- Nathalie Delon as Jane Lagrange
- Cathy Rosier as Valérie
- Jacques Leroy as Wiener
Film Music and Composer
The hauntingly sparse and jazzy score is composed by François de Roubaix. The music is used sparingly, contributing to the film’s atmosphere of tension and psychological distance. Much of the film’s soundscape is dominated by ambient noise—footsteps, doors closing, rain.
Filming Locations
- Paris, France
Most of the film was shot in real Parisian locations. The nightclub, the metro stations, narrow streets, and apartment interiors all contribute to the film’s gritty realism. Paris is stripped of romance here—it’s shadowy, bleak, and alienating, emphasizing Jef’s inner world.
Awards and Nominations
While Le Samouraï did not rack up major awards upon release, it has since been recognized as a classic:
- Included in Sight & Sound’s list of Greatest Films.
- Frequently cited by directors like Martin Scorsese, Jim Jarmusch, John Woo, and Walter Hill as a defining influence.
- Criterion Collection release and restoration for its cultural and cinematic significance.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Alain Delon’s wardrobe (especially the trench coat and fedora) became iconic; he partially designed Jef’s look himself.
- Melville was obsessed with American noir and gangster films. His office was reportedly decorated like a detective’s office from a 1940s film.
- The bird in Jef’s apartment was real—and Melville used it as a tension device. The bird reacts to intruders, giving the audience clues even when Jef remains silent.
- Melville insisted on near-silence in key scenes to force the audience to focus on body language and subtle shifts.
Inspirations and References
- Loosely inspired by the Bushidō code of Japanese samurai—Melville even referenced it in the opening quote.
- Influenced heavily by American noir films and directors like Howard Hawks and John Huston.
- The character of Jef Costello inspired Leon (in Luc Besson’s Léon: The Professional), Ryan Gosling’s character in Drive, and Ghost Dog in Jarmusch’s Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
There are no publicly known alternate endings. Melville’s films are tightly controlled and edited, and he was known for shooting only what he planned to use. No significant deleted scenes have been made available in restorations.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The film was not directly based on a book, though it shares thematic similarities with pulp novels and hardboiled detective fiction. Its structure and character archetypes resemble those in American crime novels but filtered through Melville’s uniquely philosophical lens.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The wordless opening showing Jef in his apartment, establishing his routine.
- The lineup scene at the police station—tense, slow, and hypnotic.
- Jef’s silent escape from the subway while evading police surveillance.
- The final nightclub scene and Jef’s poetic death.
Iconic Quotes
- “There is no solitude greater than that of the samurai unless it is that of the tiger in the jungle… perhaps.”
- “I never lose. Never.” – Jef Costello
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The bird in Jef’s apartment reacts to intrusions before Jef does—watch it closely.
- Jef’s trench coat and hat make visual nods to Humphrey Bogart’s characters.
- Valérie’s silence during the lineup is never fully explained—adding a layer of ambiguity.
Trivia
- Melville and Alain Delon reportedly didn’t get along during shooting, though the tension may have contributed to the character’s isolation.
- The film has less than 500 lines of dialogue in total.
- The bird in the cage actually died during production and had to be replaced mid-shoot.
Why Watch?
Watch Le Samouraï if you’re a fan of quiet, cerebral crime thrillers with impeccable style. It’s a slow-burn masterpiece that values atmosphere, moral ambiguity, and visual storytelling over action or exposition. Think of it as the blueprint for modern anti-hero cinema.
Director’s Other Movies
- Army of Shadows (1969)
- Bob le Flambeur (1956)
- Le Cercle Rouge (1970)
- Un Flic (1972)
- Léon Morin, Priest (1961)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Drive (2011)
- Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)
- The American (2010)
- The Killer (1989)
- Léon: The Professional (1994)
- Collateral (2004)
