Le Samouraï
“His only friend was his gun!”
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.
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Cast
27 people
Alain Delon
Jef Costello
Known for
Le Cercle Rouge
Rocco and His Brothers
François Périer
Superintendant
Known for
Nights of Cabiria
Orpheus
Nathalie Delon
Jane Lagrange
Known for
When Eight Bells Toll
Bluebeard
Cathy Rosier
Valérie
Also in
La Poupée sanglante
Last Leap
Michel Boisrond
Wiener
Also in
Le Bon Plaisir
Catherine Jourdan
Locker Room Girl
Known for
Eden and After
The Girl on a Motorcycle
Jean-Pierre Posier
Olivier Rey
Known for
Le Cercle Rouge
Robert Favart
Bartender
Known for
Le Cercle Rouge
The Widow Couderc
Jacques Leroy
Walkway Man
Also in
Le Cercle Rouge
Un Flic
Roger Fradet
Inspector #1
Known for
Le Cercle Rouge
Judex
Carlo Nell
Inspector #2
Known for
The Cat
Jo
Robert Rondo
Inspector #3
Also in
The Investigations of Commissioner Maigret
Le Cercle Rouge
Jean-Pierre Melville Director · Georges Pellegrin Screenplay François de Roubaix Composer
Worldwide gross $215K · United States release July 12, 1972 · Produced in France, Italy
Box office
Worldwide gross
$215,245
Production
Compagnie Industrielle et Commerciale Cinématographique
Production
Fida Cinematografica
Production
Filmel
Production
TC Productions
Production
France · Italy
Produced in
Languages
Original language
French
Spoken on screen
French
Release dates
France · October 25, 1967
Theatrical · Visa CNC 33208
United States · July 12, 1972
Limited theatrical · New York City, New York
Argentina
November 9, 2008 · Premiere · Mar del Plata Film Festival
China
October 24, 2026 · Premiere · Classic Film Festival (4K Restoration)
Denmark
April 17, 1968 · Theatrical
Finland
February 14, 1969 · Theatrical
France
September 19, 2026 · TV · Ciné+ Classic
Germany
June 12, 1968 · Theatrical · West Germany
January 26, 1983 · TV
Greece
August 9, 2018 · Digital
May 29, 2025 · Limited theatrical · Re-Issue
Hong Kong SAR China
February 13, 2005 · Premiere · HK Film Archive Series
May 5, 2005 · Premiere · Le French May Film Festival of Hong Kong
Ireland
November 26, 1971 · Theatrical
Italy
February 29, 1968 · Premiere · Rome
March 8, 1968 · Theatrical
Japan
March 16, 1968 · Theatrical
April 24, 2026 · Theatrical · 4K Restored
Mexico
June 12, 1968 · Theatrical
Netherlands
December 21, 1967 · Theatrical
Portugal
November 3, 1968 · Theatrical
Russia
June 10, 2004 · Physical · DVD
August 29, 2024 · Theatrical · Restored 4K version
October 1, 2024 · Digital
Spain
October 25, 1968 · Theatrical
Sweden
February 8, 1968 · Theatrical
Türkiye
January 6, 1969 · Theatrical
Uruguay
July 27, 1968 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.