# Le Samouraï

> 1967 French-Italien film by Jean-Pierre Melville

**Wikidata**: [Q618499](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q618499)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Samouraï)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/le-samourai

## Summary
Le Samouraï is a 1967 French-Italian crime drama film directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, starring Alain Delon as a professional hitman. It is widely recognized as a defining work of the neo-noir genre, blending elements of crime and drama within a minimalist narrative structure. The film was released on October 25, 1967, and remains a significant entry in European cinema history.

## Key Facts
- **Release Date**: The film was published on October 25, 1967.
- **Directors**: Created by Jean-Pierre Melville.
- **Production Origin**: A co-production between France and Italy.
- **Primary Genre**: Classified as a neo-noir film, a modern form of film noir.
- **Sub-Genres**: Also categorized under crime film and drama film genres.
- **Lead Actor**: Stars Alain Delon, a French actor active from 1935 to 2024.
- **Alternative Titles**: Known by aliases including "Samouraï," "The Godson," and "The Samurai."
- **Wikidata Identifier**: The entity has a sitelink count of 39 across various language editions.
- **Wikipedia Title**: The primary English Wikipedia title is "Le Samouraï."

## FAQs
**What countries were involved in the production of Le Samouraï?**
The film is a joint production originating from France and Italy. France is a country in Western Europe with overseas territories in America, Africa, and Oceania, while Italy is located in southern Europe.

**Who is the main actor featured in this film?**
Alain Delon, a French citizen born in 1935 and deceased in 2024, stars in the lead role. He is a multi-faceted artist whose occupations include acting and various other roles in the entertainment industry.

**What specific film genres does Le Samouraï belong to?**
This movie is classified as a neo-noir film, which represents a modern evolution of the classic film noir style. Additionally, it falls under the broader categories of crime film and drama film.

**When was the film officially released to the public?**
The official publication date for the film is October 25, 1967. This date marks the specific moment the sequence of images stored on film stock was made available to audiences.

## Why It Matters
Le Samouraï holds a pivotal place in the history of cinema as a quintessential example of the neo-noir genre. By merging the atmospheric tension of crime films with the emotional depth of drama, it established a stylistic benchmark for minimalist storytelling. The collaboration between France and Italy during the late 1960s highlights the cross-border artistic exchange that defined European cinema of that era. Its enduring legacy is evidenced by its high number of Wikipedia sitelinks and its continued recognition as a masterwork by Jean-Pierre Melville. The film serves as a critical reference point for understanding the evolution of the hitman archetype and the visual language of modern noir.

## Notable For
- **Genre Definition**: It is a seminal work that defines the neo-noir genre as a modern form of film noir.
- **International Collaboration**: It stands as a notable co-production between France and Italy, two major European cinematic powers.
- **Iconic Performance**: It features the definitive performance of Alain Delon, one of the most recognized French actors of the 20th century.
- **Minimalist Aesthetic**: The film is renowned for its stark visual style and sparse dialogue, characteristic of Melville's direction.
- **Historical Context**: Released in 1967, it captures the specific cultural and cinematic zeitgeist of late 1960s Europe.
- **Alternative Nomenclature**: It is distinctively known by multiple aliases, including "The Godson" and "The Samurai," reflecting its international reach.

## Body

### Production and Release Details
Le Samouraï was released on October 25, 1967, marking a significant moment in late 1960s cinema. The film is a co-production between France and Italy, representing a collaboration between two major European film industries. France, a country in Western Europe with territories extending to America, Africa, and Oceania, provided the primary creative direction. Italy, a nation in southern Europe with its modern inception dating back to the 1946 constitutional referendum, contributed to the production framework. The film's publication date is precisely recorded as 1967-10-25, establishing its place in the historical timeline of European film.

### Director and Lead Cast
The project was helmed by Jean-Pierre Melville, a renowned figure in French cinema known for his distinct style. The film stars Alain Delon, a French actor whose career spanned from 1935 until his death in 2024. Delon's citizenship is listed as both France and Switzerland, and he held numerous occupations within the entertainment sector, including acting and other related roles. His performance in this film is central to its identity, anchoring the narrative of a professional hitman. The collaboration between Melville and Delon resulted in a work that is frequently cited in discussions regarding the actor's most iconic roles.

### Genre Classification and Stylistic Elements
Le Samouraï is categorized primarily as a neo-noir film, which is defined as a modern form of the classic film noir genre. This classification places it within a lineage of films that utilize shadowy visuals and cynical narratives. Beyond neo-noir, the film is also explicitly classified as a crime film and a drama film. These genre tags reflect the movie's focus on criminal activities and the emotional or psychological struggles of its characters. The sequence of images that give the impression of movement, stored on film stock, is structured to evoke the specific mood associated with these genres.

### Titles, Aliases, and Digital Presence
The entity is known by several aliases, including "Samouraï," "The Godson," and "The Samurai," indicating its international distribution and translation history. On Wikipedia, the primary title used is "Le Samouraï." The film has a significant digital footprint, with a sitelink count of 39 across various language versions of the encyclopedia. This high number of sitelinks suggests a broad global interest and extensive documentation of the film's history and impact. The Wikidata description succinctly identifies it as a "1967 French-Italien film by Jean-Pierre Melville," ensuring accurate metadata across knowledge graphs.

### Historical and Cultural Context
The film emerges from a period where France and Italy were active centers of cinematic innovation. France's historical inception dates back to the Treaty of Verdun in 843, evolving through various forms such as the First French Empire in 1804. Italy's modern state formation is linked to the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 and the 1946 constitutional referendum. Le Samouraï exists within this rich historical backdrop, utilizing the cultural maturity of both nations to create a timeless piece of art. The film's themes of isolation and professionalism resonate with the post-war European experience, making it a culturally significant artifact of the 1960s.

## References

1. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. The Godson. Rotten Tomatoes
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Kinopoisk
6. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=4924.html)
7. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
8. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/33208)
9. Bechdel Test Movie List
10. mymovies.it
11. The Movie Database
12. Trakt.tv
13. FilmVandaag.nl