Principal cast
Alain Delon, François Périer, Nathalie Delon, Cathy Rosier and Michel Boisrond
Film 421 of 498 on the Screen Path
Le Samouraï
His only friend was his gun!
About the film
Le Samouraï at a glance.
Screen Path places this 1967 film at stop 421 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.
After carrying out a flawlessly planned hit, Jef Costello, a contract killer with samurai instincts, finds himself caught between a persistent police investigator and a ruthless employer, and not even his armor of fedora and trench coat can protect him.
Key craft credits
Henri Decaë (director of photography), Monique Bonnot (editor), Yolande Maurette (editor), François de Roubaix (original music composer) and Georges Pellegrin (screenplay)
- Director
- Jean-Pierre Melville
- Release
- 1967-10-25
- Runtime
- 105 minutes
- Genres
- Crime, Thriller and Drama
- Country
- France
- Quiz
- 40 questions
The Screen Path journey
Before. After. Remember.
The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.
01
Before you watch
Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.
Spoiler-free02
After the film
Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.
Contains spoilers03
Quiz yourself
Answer 40 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.
40 questions in this journeyCitizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.
Start the example →Full cast
Full cast
- Alain DelonCharacter: Jef Costello
- François PérierCharacter: Superintendant
- Nathalie DelonCharacter: Jane Lagrange
- Cathy RosierCharacter: Valérie
- Michel BoisrondCharacter: Wiener
- Catherine JourdanCharacter: Locker Room Girl
- Jean-Pierre PosierCharacter: Olivier Rey
- Robert FavartCharacter: Bartender
- Jacques LeroyCharacter: Walkway Man
- Roger FradetCharacter: Inspector #1
- Carlo NellCharacter: Inspector #2
- Robert RondoCharacter: Inspector #3
Full crew
Full crew
- Jean-Pierre MelvilleCredits: Director, Screenplay
- Georges PellegrinCredits: Screenplay, Assistant Director
- Raymond BorderieCredits: Producer
- Eugène LépicierCredits: Producer
- Henri DecaëCredits: Director of Photography
- Monique BonnotCredits: Editor
- Yolande MauretteCredits: Editor
- François de LamotheCredits: Production Design, Set Decoration
- René LonguetCredits: Sound Engineer
- Robert PouretCredits: Sound Editor
- Alex ProntCredits: Sound Director
- François de RoubaixCredits: Original Music Composer
- Georges CasatiCredits: Production Manager
Film data and images provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.