Safe Return Doubtful

or, The Godson – 1967 Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville and starting Alain Delon

This classic Gallic noir inspired many directors around the world in the following decade.

Simply put, it is the journey of a hired killer after a botched job. A plot used many times before, but Melville’s approach, to tell the story also of those around the investigation, and to use a revolutionary slant, with a ninety degree bow to the old-school, makes it quite unique.

Frequently, minutes pass without dialogue, but when it does it is extremely powerful. The camera enhances Delon’s facial expression which barely changes throughout, but is viewed from such clever angles that in itself it tells a tale.

You will watch many films before you will come across a character as cool as Delon’s Costello.

Melville hauls in his pulp influences from the many American noirs he lived so much, throws them in a mixer, and comes out with his own original blend. In this particular film, arguably his best, and the tour-de-force of Delon also, he pushes his own concept of masculinity taken to its insane extreme.

France 1967 – IMDb score 8.0 / 10 – mine 8 / 10