Jean Pierre Melville

The Profile

French film director (1917-1973), born Jean-Pierre Grumbach, celebrated for his stylized crime/noir films such as Le Samouraï and influential on the French New Wave.

Born 1917, died 1973. Birth name Jean-Pierre Grumbach (also cited as J. P. Grumbach). Frequently associated with French film noir and crime cinema; Le Samouraï (1967) is widely cited as a signature work. Jean-Pierre Melville made a cameo in Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless. Le Samouraï's score by François de Roubaix and cinematography by Henri Decaë are noted contributions. The film has been cited as an influence on Jim Jarmusch's Ghost Dog.

The available review praises Melville as a master of French noir, highlighting Le Samouraï (1967), Alain Delon's performance, François de Roubaix's score and Henri Decaë's cinematography. The review places Melville as an influential figure on the French New Wave and later directors.