Le Samouraï (meaning 'The Samurai') is a French crime/drama/thriller directed by French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Melville in 1967. The film's protagonist Jef Costello is played by Alain Delon. The story follows a perfectionist free agent hitman who follows a strict code. He lives in a decrepit apartment with lines of mineral water and cigarettes on a bookcase as well as a little bird in the middle of the room. The film opens with a view of Costello waiting on his bed smoking, and soon this text appears. Jean-Pierre Melville ( born October 20, 1917 Paris, France) is a noted French director born under the name Jean-Pierre Grumbach. ... Alain Delon Alain Delon (born November 8, 1935) is a French actor, one of the best known outside his native country. ...

“There is no solitude greater then the samurai’s, unless perhaps it be that of a tiger in the jungle.”

Costello has no criminal records due to his strict way of working, which includes setting up elaborate alibis with his girlfriend Jane (played by Nathalie Delon). He is hired to kill a club owner; however he leaves the place with several people seeing him. The evidence is insufficient, although the police Superintendant belives Delon is the killer. Costello soon finds himself in a difficult position, being pursued by both police tails and his employers. He also begins to fall for one of the witnesses, a piano player who purposely did not give him up in the police lineup. The reason Le Samouraï is regarded as one of the best thrillers ever and most influential is the direction. Melville creates this film as a spotless Neo-noir. Every image appears to be planned. The film's fame comes from the fact that only three or so scenes contain gunfire, however Melville keps the suspense going through the whole film, mostly due to the haunting Jazzy score and an excellent performance from Delon, who plays Costello with an emotionless look through much of the film. Even normal things happening appear suspensful, and the audience is often thinking what is going to happen next. The plot is fairly simple, but the final creation has sparked endless discussion on its depth and meaning. Many filmmakers like Michael Mann, Quentin Tarantino, and Martin Scorsese have been inspired by Melville. Neo-noir is a term given to the modern trend of incorporating aspects of film noir into films of other genres. ... Michael Mann is a film director. ... Quentin Tarantino, playing Mr. ... Martin Scorsese (pronounced as Scor-SAY-SEE) (born November 17, 1942 in Queens, New York, USA) is an American film director. ...

SPOILER WARNING After being released from the police lineup, Costello loses a police tail and gets to a meeting point on a subway overpass. He walks up to the man who is one of his employers. Instead of being paid he is shot in the arm and the man gets away. Costello returns home to take care of his wound. He soon meets the piano player and they develop a slight relationship. Soon enough men are bugging his room, which he finds and turns off. Soon he realizes he is in a position he cannot win in. He is at gunpoint in his room by the man who shot him before, only this time giving him money and offering him a new job. Costello might be thinking it's a trap, and he overpowers the man and ties him but not before getting the name of his boss. He does through the whole process he did in the beginning, except with no alibi. He goes to the boss' home, which is the same house the piano player lived in. He kills the man and goes to the club, where he puts on his white gloves and takes out his gun when he goes up to the piano player. She warns him not to stay, and after seeing the weapon, she simply asks "Why, Jef?" To which he replies, "I was paid to." After a moment of staring gunshots are heard, but not Jef's. Several cops gun down Jef where he stands. The Superintendant picks up Jef's gun and opens it. There were no bullets in the gun.