Jean-Pierre Melville
Biography
Jean-Pierre Melville was a French filmmaker born on October 20, 1917, in Paris, France. He is known professionally by this name, which he adopted as a pseudonym during his service in the French Resistance during World War II. Melville is considered a spiritual father of the French New Wave and was one of the first fully-independent French filmmakers to achieve commercial and critical success. He directed numerous films, including crime dramas and war films. Melville passed away on August 2, 1973, at the age of 55.
Career overview
Jean-Pierre Melville was a French filmmaker. He is considered a spiritual father of the French New Wave and one of the first fully-independent French filmmakers to achieve commercial and critical success. Melville's works include crime dramas and war films.
Melville's subject matter and approach to filmmaking were heavily influenced by his service in the French Resistance during World War II. During this time, he adopted the pseudonym 'Melville'. His films often dealt with themes related to his experiences in the war.
Melville's directing credits include a number of notable films. He directed crime dramas such as Bob le flambeur, Le Doulos, Le Samouraï, and Le Cercle Rouge. He also directed war films like Le Silence de la mer and Army of Shadows.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
65 titles- Delon-Melville, la solitude de deux samouraïs (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- Les Rois de la comédie (2023) as Self (archive footage)
- Belmondo: The Incorrigible (2022)
- Short Cuts : Le Cercle rouge de Jean-Pierre Melville (2021) Original Film Writer
- Melville, le dernier samouraï (2020) as (archives)
- Alain Delon, l'ombre au tableau (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- Thlípsi (2018) Thanks
- Lino Ventura, la part intime (2018) as Self (archive footage)
- Belmondo, le magnifique (2017) as Self (archive footage)
- Melville-Delon: Honor and Night (2011) as Self (archive footage)
- Code Name: Melville (2010) as Self (archive footage)
- Their First Films (2004) Director
- The Good Thief (2003) Original Film Writer
- Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) Thanks
- Urgent ou à quoi bon exécuter des projets puisque le projet est en lui-même une jouissance suffisante (1977) as Self (archive footage)
- Midi trente (1972) as Self (archive footage)
- Un Flic (1972) Writer
- Un Flic (1972) Director
- Jean-Pierre Melville: Portrait in 9 Poses (1971) as Himself
- Le Cercle Rouge (1970) Director
- Le Cercle Rouge (1970) Editor
- Le Cercle Rouge (1970) Writer
- Army of Shadows (1969) Screenplay
- Army of Shadows (1969) Director
- Le Samouraï (1967) Director
- Le Samouraï (1967) Screenplay
- Jean-Pierre Melville on the Set of Le Deuxième Souffle (1966) as Self - Interviewee
- Le Deuxième Souffle (1966) Writer
- Le Deuxième Souffle (1966) Director
- Bluebeard (1963) as Clemenceau's Aide
- Magnet of Doom (1963) Dialogue
- Magnet of Doom (1963) Screenplay
- Magnet of Doom (1963) Director
- Le Doulos (1962) Director
- Le Doulos (1962) Screenplay
- Sign of the Lion (1962) as Un Consommateur (uncredited)
- Le Combat dans l'île (1962) as Un membre de l'organisation (uncredited)
- Léon Morin, Priest (1961) Director
- Léon Morin, Priest (1961) Writer
- Breathless (1960) as Parvulesco the Writer
- Two Men in Manhattan (1959) as Moreau
- Two Men in Manhattan (1959) Director
- Two Men in Manhattan (1959) Writer
- A Girl in a Pocket (1957) as Commissioner
- Cinépanorama (1956) as Self
- Bob le Flambeur (1956) as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- Bob le Flambeur (1956) Director
- Bob le Flambeur (1956) Producer
- Bob le Flambeur (1956) Writer
- When You Read This Letter (1953) Director
- When You Read This Letter (1953) Producer
- Orpheus (1950) as Hotel Manager (uncredited)
- The Strange Ones (1950) Director
- The Strange Ones (1950) Writer
- The Strange Ones (1950) Producer
- The Strange Ones (1950) Production Design
- The Silence of the Sea (1949) Adaptation
- The Silence of the Sea (1949) Director
- The Silence of the Sea (1949) Screenplay
- The Silence of the Sea (1949) Executive Producer
- The Silence of the Sea (1949) Editor
- 24 Hours in the Life of a Clown (1946) as Narrator (uncredited)
- 24 Hours in the Life of a Clown (1946) Director
- 24 Hours in the Life of a Clown (1946) Producer
- 24 Hours in the Life of a Clown (1946) Screenplay
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Jean-Pierre Melville best known for?
Jean-Pierre Melville is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Hawkeye (The First Frontier) (1994), Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), Midi trente (1972), A Cop (1972).
When and where was Jean-Pierre Melville born?
Jean-Pierre Melville was born on October 20, 1917 in Paris, France. They passed away on August 2, 1973.
How many credits does Jean-Pierre Melville have?
Jean-Pierre Melville has accumulated over 65 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1946 to 2024.
What is Jean-Pierre Melville's background in cinema and television?
Jean-Pierre Melville was a French filmmaker born on October 20, 1917, in Paris, France. He is known professionally by this name, which he adopted as a pseudonym during his service in the French Resistance during World War II. Melville is considered a spiritual father of the French New Wave and was one of the first full...
Jean-Pierre Melville by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Cinépanorama (1956) as Self — aged about 38
- Orpheus (1950) as Hotel Manager (uncredited) — aged about 32
- Breathless (1960) as Parvulesco the Writer — aged about 42
- Bob le Flambeur (1956) as Narrator (voice) (uncredited) — aged about 38
- Bluebeard (1963) as Clemenceau's Aide — aged about 45
- Midi trente (1972) as Self (archive footage) — aged about 54
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