Question 1

What surprising detail connects Alain Delon's personal life to the film's title?

Accepted Answer

When Jean-Pierre Melville told Alain Delon the title was "Le samouraï," Delon led him to his bedroom where only a leather couch and a samurai blade hung on the wall.

Question 2

Which tragic real-life event involved the caged bird shown as Jef Costello's pet?

Accepted Answer

The caged bird in the film was the only casualty of the fire that destroyed Jean-Pierre Melville's studio in 1967.

Question 3

What was the film's misleading U.S. release title and why was it chosen?

Accepted Answer

A dubbed English version was released in the United States as "The Godson" to capitalize on the success of The Godfather (1972).

Question 4

What central conflict drives the story of Jef Costello?

Accepted Answer

After a flawlessly planned hit, contract killer Jef Costello finds himself caught between a persistent police investigator and a ruthless employer.

Question 5

Which acclaimed directors have explicitly named this film as their favorite or created homages to it?

Accepted Answer

John Woo and Johnnie To have explicitly named it as their favorite film, with Woo's The Killer (1989) and Jarmusch's Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) regarded as homages.

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Le Samouraï

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