Alain Delon Movies
The magnetic Alain Delon was among the most prominent French actors of the postwar era; an exotically handsome performer, he sprung from offscreen rumor and scandal to emerge as a uniquely enigmatic and sinister talent. Born November 8, 1935, in Sceaux, France, Delon spent his formative years primarily in the care of foster parents. He later was sent away to a series of boarding schools, and at the age of 17, he joined the marines, serving as a parachutist in Indo-China. Upon his discharge, Delon returned to Marseilles and struck up a friendship with aspiring actor Jean-Claude Brialy, who invited him to attend the 1957 Cannes Film Festival. There Delon's delicate good looks won him a number of movie offers, including a rumored seven-year deal with David O. Selznick. In the end, he accepted a small role in the Edwige Feuillere film Quand la Femme S'en Mele, followed by an appearance in 1957's Sois Belle Et Tais-Toi.Delon's first lead role in a picture came opposite Romy Schneider, to whom he was later briefly engaged, in 1958's Christine. A handful of other supporting turns followed before he won the lead in Rene Clement's stylish 1960 thriller Plein Soleil, an international hit which cast him as a murderous American traveling abroad. In 1960, he appeared in Luchino Visconti's Rocco e i Suoi Fratelli. Under Visconti, he also reunited with Schneider on-stage in a production of 'Tis Pity She's a Whore. Next teaming again with Clement, Delon appeared in 1961's Che Gioia Vivere, followed by an appearance with Brigitte Bardot in Les Amours Celebres.
Despite mixed critical regard for his work, Delon was a favorite among many of the era's most prominent filmmakers, and in 1962 he starred in Michelangelo Antonioni's brilliant L'Eclisse followed by a turn in Visconti's 1963 masterpiece Il Gattopardo. These many high-profile projects boosted Delon to international prominence, and his next project, 1963's Melodie En Sous-Sol, was a big-budget gangster tale co-starring Jean Gabin. With 1964's Les Felins, he turned to producing as well as performing, later establishing his own company, Adel Productions. With 1965's Once a Thief, Delon made his Hollywood debut, followed by The Lost Command, Texas Across the River, and Yellow Rolls-Royce. By 1967, however, he was back in France, appearing alongside wife Nathalie Delon in Jean-Pierre Melville's cult classic Le Samourai -- a role which defined the self-absorbed loner persona he continued to develop over subsequent performances -- and with Marianne Faithfull in The Girl on a Motorcycle a year later.
In 1969, Delon and his wife found themselves at the center of a massive scandal when their bodyguard was found shot to death, his body left in a garbage dump. The subsequent investigation into his killing threatened to implicate many of France's most prominent celebrities and politicians in a sordid web of murder, drugs, and sex. Many predicted the demise of Delon's career, but he spun the tabloid headlines to his favor. In the eyes of many filmgoers, his myriad portrayals of gangsters, killers, and sexual deviants suddenly took on new reality in light of the similar exploits he experienced in his offscreen life, and a notorious television interview in which he admitted to past homosexual liaisons -- as well as many other seamy adventures -- tantalized audiences even more. In the wake of the controversy, Delon starred in four consecutive gangster films -- Jean Herman's Jeff, Henri Verneuil's Le Clan des Siciliens, Jacques Deray's Borsalino (with Jean-Paul Belmondo), and Melville's Le Cercle Rouge -- all of them hugely successful with European audiences; Hollywood fame continued to elude him, however, and English-language efforts like 1973's Scorpio failed to attract audiences.
Nevertheless, Delon spent much of the 1970s as France's biggest star. Monsieur Klein (1976), directed by Joseph Losey, won a Cesar as the year's best picture, and thrillers like 1977's Comme Un Boomerang and Le Gang continued to perform extremely well at the box office. In 1979, he again tried to penetrate the American market in the star-studded Airport '79: Concord, but, as before, he returned home without success. In 1981, Delon turned to directing with Pour la Peau d'un Flic, which he followed two years later with Le Battant. In 1984, he co-starred in Volker Schlöndorff's Un Amour de Swann, the most prestigious project he had graced in well over a decade. That same year he garnered a Cesar for his work in Notre Histoire, and in 1985 Parole de Flic became another major hit. Following miserable reviews and receipts for 1986's Le Passage, however, Delon's prolific shooting schedule began to taper off, and he selected projects with greater discretion. Among those chosen was 1990's Nouvelle Vague, which paired him for the first time with director Jean-Luc Godard. During the 1990s, his profile continued to recede from the screen as he focused on various business ventures, and he did not reappear before the camera prior to 1994's L' Ours en Peluche. After a cameo in Agnes Varda's all-star 1995 production Les Cent et une Nuits de Simon Cinema, he next resurfaced in 1997's Le Jour et la Nuit. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 2008
Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo's internationally popular cartoon characters Asterix and Obelix take on the world of athletics in this live-action comedy-adventure. It's 50 B.C., and short but wily Asterix (Clovis Cornillac) and his rotund sidekick Obelix (Gerard Depardieu) hit the road for Rome, where they hope to compete in the Olympic Games. Obelix figures he's a sure bet for a weight-lifting medal until he learns his special strength elixir is against the rules, and Asterix is soon distracted by the behind-the-scenes chicanery. Princess Irina (Vanessa Hessler), a beautiful member of the Greek royal family, is being wooed by well-meaning Lovesix (Stephane Rousseau), who is using love poems stolen from Obelix to win her heart, and untrustworthy Brutus (Benoit Poelvoorde), whose father is the Roman emperor Julius Caesar (Alain Delon). Brutus is eager to take over the throne from his father, and keeps trying to kill Caesar off to speed up the process. Asterix Aux Jeux Olympiques (aka Asterix At The Olympic Games) also features cameo appearances from a number of European sports stars, including Zinedine Zidane, Michael Schumacher and Tony Parker. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clovis Cornillac, Gérard Depardieu, (more)
- 2000
The son of actor Bernard Blier, director Bertrand Blier is known throughout France for his documentaries and dark depictions of sex and its impact on society. Though his influences and personal opinions clearly shine through, Les Acteurs is a satirical take on the ups, downs, and numerous implications of life in showbiz as told by a variety of real-life French actors. Among the featured cast are André Dussollier, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Jacques Villeret, Claude Rich, and Pierre Arditi, all of whom play themselves. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- André Dussollier, Jean-Pierre Marielle, (more)
- 1998
This French comedy-thriller is directed by Patrice Leconte, who was Oscar-nominated for Ridicule (1996). The film reunites Jean-Paul Belmondo and Alain Delon, almost three decades after they appeared together in Borsalino (1970). Unaware of her father's identity, car thief Alice Tomaso (Vanessa Paradis) is released from prison one month after her mother's death. She plays an audiocassette in which her mother tells her that 20 years earlier she loved two men and thus never knew which was Alice's father. In true Belmondo fashion, Alice steals a sports car and drives toward the south of France to seek out both possible papas, now semi-retired businessmen. Auto dealer Leo Brassac (Belmondo) and successful Julien Vignal (Delon), who flies his own helicopter, dislike each other, but they team up after Alice steals a car with $50 million of Russian Mafia money in the trunk. The Russian syndicate wants Alice to turn over the money, but she can't; it was taken by undercover cop Carella (Eric Defosse), tracking each illegal Russkie move. Fortunately, former Foreign Legionnaire Leo and jewel-thief Julien have both the weapon power and smarts to help Alice thwart all mob machinations. The French equivalent of Heat -- in which Al Pacino and Robert De Niro are seen noshing during a quiet coffeeshop encounter -- contains a scene where famed French icons Delon and Belmondo order burgers at McDonalds. But then the two gear up for action, and composer Alexandre Desplat heightens the nostalgic mood with Claude Bolling's familiar Borsalino refrain. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Alain Delon, (more)
This program features a portrait of Italian film director Luchino Visconti. The cultivated Visconti brought to the screen such literary masterpieces as Thomas Mann's Death in Venice and Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's The Leopard. Interviews with friends, family, and colleagues give insight into the life and works of this complex director of theater and cinema. Marcello Mastroianni and Claudia Cardinale are two of the many film stars who fondly recall their time with the great director. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
Ten years ago, distinguished French author Alexandre (Alain Delon) exchanged his stressful, hectic life in Paris for a more peaceful existence upon a Mexican hacienda with his wife Ariane (Marianne Denicourt). Lucien (Jean-Pierre Kalfon) also accompanies them. There, Alexandre meets the strange lady-oracle Sonia (Lauren Bacall). As the film opens, the melancholy Alexandre is visited by the sensuous actress Laure (Arielle Dombasle) and her producer Raoul Fillipi (Karl Zero) who is going to make a movie of one of Alexandre's best-loved books. Laure is determined to play the part of the heroine and is willing to resort to seduction to get it. At the same time, Ariane is involved in a passionate affair with French-Mexican seismologist Carlo (Xavier Beauvois). While all of these characters wrangle and tangle with their different agendas, the local residents prepare for a violent revolution. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Lauren Bacall, (more)
This homage to the cinema by venerated movie-maker Agnes Varda, often dubbed the "grandmother" of the French New Wave, features an all-star international cast. The story is based upon the memories and insights of the 100-year old Mr. Simon Cinema. He lives in a magnificent house filled with movie memorabilia. To help him remember the important details of his career he hires Camille, a film student to write down his remembrances and experiences which have involved all areas of movie-making. Camille comes once a day for 101 days. Film clips, photographs and actual visitors highlight his stories. As he continues to spin his yarns, the imagery in the film smoothly morph into other images. Camille, when not recording, is involved in other exploits including a romance with a production assistant, Mica who aspires to becoming a director. She also begins plotting a way to get to Mr. Cinema's fortune by having a friend pose as his long lost heir. Many other characters are peripherally involved including Death, an Italian seeking the rights to his film catalogue, and a memory specialist. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michel Piccoli, Marcello Mastroianni, (more)
- 1994
This Italian psychological thriller is based on as novel by Georges Simenon. Delon is an immoral, gynecologist who frequently cheats on his wife. He is also very successful and has a richly appointed office in Brussels. His good life begins to change when he finds himself receiving death threats and a mysterious teddy bear. After he finds himself responsible for two deaths, he relinquishes his womanizing ways and goes back home. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Francesca Dellera, (more)
- 1992
If this had been a western, the older gunfighter would have taught his younger rival a thing or two about the perils of a scandalous reputation before passing on the torch and (more than likely) dying tragically just as he is about to reform. Instead, in this film based on a novel celebrating the exploits of the legendary seducer Casanova, the younger competition is humbled by the fiftyish fugitive from justice because, in the art of seduction, experience is everything. In the story, Casanova (Alain Delon) is a fugitive from the wrath of the authorities of France and Italy, and he is being sheltered beneath the roof of an old friend, for whom he once did an important favor. The friend has an attractive niece, whose charms interest the almost elderly roué. However, he has two problems: his friend's wife is an old conquest who has been longing for him to show up and bed her for almost twenty years, and the niece is being courted by a handsome young soldier whose ambition is to outdo Casanova in the area of amorous adventures. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Fabrice Luchini, (more)
- 1990
In the Dancing Machine, Alain Delon is Alan Wolf, a former great name in the world of dance, who has been forced by injuries to retire and become an instructor. He trains talented young people who hope for a career as dancers. In particular, despite an incredibly harsh and demanding demeanor, he wins the fanatical adoration of his female students. Indeed, so ardent is their worship of him that when they are dismissed from his studio for artistic shortcomings, many of them become suicidally despondent. One of them actually dances herself to death outside the window to his home. As deaths among his students begin to accumulate, Inspector Eparvier (Claude Brasseur) begins an investigation. Is Wolf simply a cold-blooded and apparently misogynistic manipulator, or is he deliberately bringing about these deaths? ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Claude Brasseur, (more)
- 1990
Nouvelle Vague marks the beginning of a period in Jean-Luc Godard's career in which he made films that looked back on his previous work. In these retrospective films, Godard asked himself whether it is possible to continue as a film director under the conditions imposed by international commercial cinema. Appropriately enough, Nouvelle Vague concerns the return of a man (Roger Lennox / Richard Lennox, played by Alain Delon, superstar of 60s and 70s international cinema) who may or may not have returned from the dead. The film's narrative is extremely disjointed and might be better understood as an essay on the idea of returning. The theme of a return from the dead gives Godard the opportunity to come back to the religious imagery and theological considerations that interested him from 1983's Hail Mary. The film's dialogue is a patchwork of unattributed quotations from works of literature, philosophy, and economics, a technique that Godard adopted in most of his films after this one. Even if the film's "story" is not easy to understand, the beauty of its images and sounds, along with the sublime rhythms of the editing, may be enough to ravish some audiences. ~ Louis Schwartz, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Domiziana Giordano, (more)
- 1988
This "policier" was co-written by producer and star Alain Delon with director Jose Pinheiro. It tells the story of a group of right-wing cops have begun carrying out vigilante justice on drug dealers and other crime figures who might otherwise avoid punishment for their misdeeds. Police inspector Grindel (Delon) understands the feelings which motivate these deeds, but does not approve. However, he is not highly motivated to put an end to the group's activities until it begins to appear that they are now attacking fellow cops for reasons which are unclear. Grindel sets to work to uncover the culprits, and in a climactic scene, confronts his colleague Scatti (Michel Serrault). Delon, a familiar figure in French cinema, has a great many films to his credit not only as an actor, but as a producer, director and screenwriter. This film marks his return to the screen as an actor after a three year absence. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Michel Serrault, (more)
- 1986
In one of the oddest personifications of Death found in the cinema or elsewhere, first-time director (Rene Manzor) creates a Grim Reaper with his own control room, replete with high-tech wizardry in this sci-fi drama. Jean Diaz (Alain Delon) is a filmmaker working on an animated feature that would speak out against violence, when he is suddenly killed in an accident. Diaz comes around after death only to face Death personified, who wants to strike a bargain with him. Diaz can return to life if he agrees to make his film according to Death's plan for the annihilation of the human race. If Diaz does not agree to these terms, then his young son -- now in a coma from the accident -- will also die. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Christine Boisson, (more)
- 1985
The sentiments of producer, co-writer, and star Alain Delon provide the particular slant in this routine thriller about vigilante justice over other vigilantes. The angry hero (Delon) leaves France in a fury because of a technicality in the justice system that failed to convict the murderers of his wife. After lazing away his days in a Congolese village, sleeping with whatever woman he chooses or playing cards, he finds out that vigilantes have murdered his daughter because they are intent on ridding France of undesirables -- which include delinquents (a category mistakenly attributed to her) and North Africans, as well as drug dealers. Now really out of control, revenge propels the bereaved father to return home and murder the vigilantes one by one, maiming them first to watch them suffer. Justice, of course, is too blind to catch up with him. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Jacques Perrin, (more)
This ambitious attempt to film a portion of Marcel Proust's epic novel Remembrance of Things Past stars Jeremy Irons as Charles Swann, a Jewish intellectual who has managed to overcome growing anti-Semitism in 19th century France and travels in an elite social circle. But Swann has become obsessed with Odette (Ornella Muti), a courtesan who cares more for money than Swann's passion for her. In time they marry, but Swann soon realizes his desire for her is based purely on physical lust for someone with whom he has no rapport, or even much affection, and the relationship begins to erode the social acceptance Swann struggled to achieve. Meanwhile, the Baron de Charlus (Alain Delon) finds himself similarly attracted to a young man who does not share his desires. Un Amour de Swann was much praised for its production design and the cinematography of frequent Ingmar Bergman collaborator Sven Nykvist, though many felt director Volker Schlondorff failed to capture the narrative depth and complexity of Proust's novel. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeremy Irons, Ornella Muti, (more)
- 1984
In this confusing, surreal, and slow-paced drama that swings back and forth from strange to farcical, Robert (Alain Delon) meets Donatienne (Nathalie Baye) on a train. She tells him a story about a woman and a man who meet on a train and subsequently spend a night - only one night - in a glorious sexual encounter before they part forever. He is so taken with her that he ends up in her mountain chalet, not just for one night, but for many - drinking beer and forgetting about his wife in Paris. Donatienne then has sexual relations with all the men in her neighborhood - and the film steps fully into a bizarre world in which neither Robert nor Donatienne can honestly relate to each other. The mystery about what is going on is revealed in the end, but by then the film - verbose, inscrutable, and artificial - may have alienated more than one viewer. On the other hand, the performances of Delon and Baye stand out against this flawed backdrop, an achievement recognized at the 1984 Cesars when Delon won the Best Actor award for his role as Robert. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Nathalie Baye, (more)
- 1982
Martin Terrier (Alain Delon) has a problem. He wants to quit his job, but unlike everyone else, he cannot do it because he is a hired hitman and his employers would hate to see him turned out to pasture -- he knows too much, and he is still useful. When he escapes to the countryside for awhile, he meets Claire (Catherine Deneuve), and love blossoms. Back in Paris to confront his employers once again, Terrier gets an ultimatum -- do one last job for them and he can go free. He has no choice but to accept, even knowing that the odds on a long retirement have just changed for the worse. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Catherine Deneuve, (more)
- 1982
Alain Delon produced, directed, co-wrote, and starred in this story about a solitary thief, jailed for a jewel robbery and the murder of the jeweler, and set free after serving his prison term. His objective is to get his hands on the stolen jewels before a crowd of gangsters reaches them and/or kills him, and before the police can catch up with him again. The hero-thief-murderer manages to romance an attractive woman in the meantime, suggesting his future might be rosier than his past. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, François Perier, (more)
- 1981
In this thriller, a private detective disregards the many warnings he has been given and continues searching for a missing blind girl. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Michel Auclair, (more)
- 1981
This story starts in 1980 in Paris as the memories of Andrei Borodin (Igor Kostolevsky), a Soviet agent, take the action back to 1943 during the Teheran meetings of Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill. A high-ranking Nazi intelligence officer (Albert Filozov) developed a plan to assassinate the three world leaders in order to undermine the Allied forces. He commissioned a German agent Max Richard (Armen Dzhigarkhanyan) to carry out his plan, but it failed due to the quick action and thinking of Andrei. While in Teheran, Andrei met a Russian woman (Natalia Belokhvostikova) living in the city and they had a brief but intense affair. Nearly four decades later, the Nazi officer has been captured - but not for long. Freed by terrorists, the officer is hunting down the German agent who failed to carry out the planned assassinations. In the meantime, the Soviet agent is in Paris to meet his lover from years ago, and modern terrorists pose threats that seem to have been carried across the decades. Alain Delon briefly appears as the ill-fated police inspector who must hunt down the terrorists. Teheran '43 won a Gold Medal at the 1981 Moscow Film Festival. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Natalya Belokhvostikova, Igor Kostolevsky, (more)
- 1980
Michel Gerfaut (Alain Delon) makes his living playing poker. But when he stops to help an injured motorist on the side of the road one night, he unwittingly gets involved in a sinister arms deal cover-up. The capable Gerfaut goes on holiday, bringing his longtime girlfriend, Béa (Dalila Di Lazzaro), to Trouville to meet his mother (Simone Renant). He soon finds himself the target of killers hired by the pompous Emmerich (Pierre Dux) and his ruthless underling, Leprince (Michel Auclair), who suspect he's working for their competitors. Gerfaut unsuccessfully tries to get help from a policeman friend, but the police are tied in with the crooked military aeronautics company. Backed into a corner, Gerfaut strikes back against his attackers, eventually taking the fight right to Emmerich's doorstep. Three Men to Kill, based on the well-regarded novel by Jean-Patrick Manchette, was directed by Jacques Deray, who also co-wrote the script with frequent collaborator (Borsalino et al) Delon, who also produced, and Christopher Frank. Delon and Frank later adapted Manchette's Pour la peau d'un flic for the actor's directorial debut. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Dalila di Lazzaro, (more)
- 1979
A predictable melodrama, Le Toubib is based on a novel by Jean Freustie about an unhappy surgeon and the tragedy of war. Jean-Marie (Alain Delon) has a successful practice in Paris when his marriage crumbles and he is sent to operate in a field hospital in an unspecified war zone in Europe. He is driven up the wall by Harmony (Veronique Jannot) an attractive assistant whose sunny disposition grates on the surgeon's nerves, or at least, on the one he has left. Then he discovers that Harmony is suffering from an incurable disease and the pathos begins. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Véronique Jannot, Bernard Giraudeau, (more)
- 1979
The fourth Airport film may be the silliest of them all, as George Kennedy returns, this time co-piloting with Alain Delon. The plane is on its way to the Moscow Olympics, has a bomb on board, and gets fired upon with missiles that necessitate flying upside-down. A look at the cast list resembles a bad episode of Fantasy Island, but it's always fun to see shameless touches like casting Mercedes McCambridge (Johnny Guitar) as the coach of the Soviet team. If you don't understand the significance of that choice, you may find this film more tedious than laughable, but fans of bad movies will have a field day, as Jimmie Walker, Charo, and -- oddly enough -- Bibi Andersson rub shoulders with high-altitude disaster. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Susan Blakely, (more)
- 1978
This disturbing French drama comments upon the effects of excessive television violence on children. It's set within a seaside villa, where under the care of a nanny, a group of children spend most of their days watching violent television shows. One day they all go to the beach. The nanny dozes while they frolic. For a joke, they load the snoozing servant into a rubber raft and set her out to sea. She panics when she wakes up and ends up drowning. The kids do try to save her, but when they fail they decide to run wild instead of reporting the incident. The death means nothing to them until a threatening stranger appears and tells them he witnessed it all. He then proceeds to terrify them with his predictions about what the authorities will do with such killers. The children turn around and get their own kind of revenge. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Françoise Brion, (more)
- 1977
Xavier Marechal (Alain Delon) is a businessman whose long-time business partner and friend is Philippe Dubaye (Maurice Ronet) a member of the French parliamentary assembly. In the film, Philippe has just killed Cerrano, a fellow assemblyman who threatened to disclose Philippe's involvement in political corruption. After killing the man, he steals his notebook which contains blackmail information implicating many members of the government. Philippe comes to Xavier afterward for help but only has time to tell him where the notebook is hidden before he is killed. Xavier and Philippe's girlfriend Valerie (Ornella Muti) become the objects of a manhunt by the worried politicians and their henchmen. Mort d'Un Pourri was basically an Alain Delon project; he funded the production of this action thriller, lent his name to it, and invited well-known action- and comedy-director Georges Lautner to direct it. This virtually guaranteed enough money for a polished production, with an all-star cast. Alain Delon here remains faithful to his image as a lone wolf, proud warrior and "samurai" devoted to friendship. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Ornella Muti, (more)
