Alain Delon, the legendary French actor, was a central figure in the French golden age of cinema during the 1960s and 70s. Known for his suave, tough-guy persona and striking good looks, Leon appeared in more than 100 movies in his five-decade career. What made Delon so memorable was the unpredictable nature of his performances. From the ruthless assassin he played inLe Samouraï,to the charismatic criminal inBorsalino, Delon especially shone when he showed his seductive side inL’EclisseandLa Piscine. Hiss filmography even includes iconic literary characters, such as Zorro and Tom Ripley.
Delon passed away on August 18th, 2024, at the age of 88. Since then, film scholars, journalists, and fans have reflected on his remarkable body of work and the legacy his powerful performances have left in cinema history. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors of his generationand the rare international star to achieve global acclaim. While it is challenging to narrow down his extraordinary filmography, Delon’s best films truly showcase his unique talent and gravitas.
A unique departure for Alain Delon,Spirits of the Dead (Histoires Extraordinaire)is a horror anthology comprising three segments directed by filmmaking legends Federico Fellini, Louis Malle, and Roger Vadim. Each of the films are based on stories by Edgar Allen Poe and features an incredible cast, including Jane Fonda, Terrence Stamp, Peter Fonda, and Bridgette Bardot.
While Fellini’s film,Toby Dammit,an unsettling satire of horror films, is the standout of the three, Louis Malle’s entryWilliam Wilson,starring Delon, is also immensely rewarding.Delon delivers a chilling performance as a murderous psychopathwho has a fateful confrontation with his doppelgänger. His scenes with Bardot, playing a courtesan, are the film’s highlight and Malle effectively captures the eerie atmosphere and macabre tone of Poe’s best work.
This towering WWII film unfolds during the liberation of Paris by the French Resistance. Delon plays real-life figure Jaques Chaban-Delmas, a resistance leader who is faced with a harrowing choice when he learns that Hitler has appointed a general to destroy Paris if the Allies try to reclaim it.
Seeing the depiction of the German leadership grappling with the madness of Hitler’s plan is especially memorable.
The filmprovides a rare glimpse into lesser-seen aspects of WWII. Tension builds as Delon’s Gaullist character adopts a cautious “wait-and-see” strategy, while communist leader Colonel Rol-Tanguy, portrayed by the brilliant Bruno Kremer, advocates for immediate action by forcing an uprising of the Paris civilians. Seeing the depiction of the German leadership grappling with the madness of Hitler’s plan is especially memorable. The film also has a screenplay co-written by Francis Ford Coppola in one of his first credits.
A change of pace for Alain Delon,The Black Tulip(La Tuilpe Noire) based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas, is a lighthearted swashbuckling adventure, whereaudiences get two Alain Delons for the price of one.Delon made the film to showcase his versatility after perfecting his suave, intense persona in earlier roles. He was also inspired by the success his friend Jean-Paul Belmondo found with the swashbucklerCartouchea few years prior.
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In the film, Delon plays a nobleman who leads a double life as a masked bandit known as the Black Tulip, who goes around robbing local aristocrats. When his bandit is scarred during a robbery, he enlists his twin brother to take the persona over and wear the mask, in order to conceal his identity. While more frivolous than most of Delon’s notable roles, it is still immensely entertaining and offers a refreshing opportunity to see Delon explore other types of characters.
The Sicilian Clan
Cast
The Sicilian Clan, directed by Henri Verneuil, follows an ambitious mobster who orchestrates a complex diamond heist while enticing the daughter-in-law of a powerful mob patriarch. Meanwhile, a relentless police commissioner seeks to thwart their plans in this gripping crime drama set in 1969.
In this thrilling film that blends the gangster genre with a heist film, Alain Delon joins forces with two other heavyweights of French cinema, Lino Ventura and Jean Gabin. Delon plays a cold-blooded criminal who escapes from prison with the help of the Sicilian Mafia. He teams up with the mob boss (Gabin) to execute an intricate heist to steal priceless jewels from an exhibit in Rome.
While the heist elements feel a little familiar,the film stands out forEnnio Morriconne’s iconic scoreand the suspenseful climax in which the mobsters hijack a plane transporting the diamonds. While Delon is part of an ensemble in the film, he still does a masterful job of creating a unique character, and the fun of the film is watching him navigate the treacherous criminal organization he is entangled with.
Role: Gino Strabliggi
Two Men in Town
Two Men in Town, directed by José Giovanni, follows a former bank robber who, after serving a decade in prison, seeks redemption with the aid of a social worker. However, he faces persistent harassment from a cop with whom he shares a fraught past.
Two Men in Town(Deux hommes dans la Ville)might be Alain Delon’s bleakest film. It’s another simmering crime story, in which Delon plays a man trying to stay on the straight and narrow after being released early from prison. The majority of the film focuses on his character, Gino Strabliggi’s reintegration into society with the help of a compassionate social worker, played by Jean Gabin. However, things soon go awry as Gino is harassed by a police officer from his past and is lured back into his former life of crime.
The film is very understated, with a relatively simple plot, but its strength lies in the connection between Delon and Gabin’s characters. Their relationship is full of real heart and pathos, making the ending even more tragic.It’s a haunting film that will stick with youafter watching it.
Zorro
Zorro is a 1975 adventure film directed by Duccio Tessari. It follows a newly installed governor who adopts a masked alter ego, Zorro, to combat the oppressive rule of the corrupt Colonel Huerta. Teaming with allies, he seeks to restore justice to the troubled province.
A straightforward adaptation of Johnston McCulley’s classic novel, Duccio Tessari’sZorroblends the director’s Spaghetti Western style with a traditional swashbuckling tone. Alain Delon stars as the title character, and it might be the most fun he has ever had on screen. He stars as the governor of a town under martial law who is forced to go up against the villainous Col. Huerta. Eventually, Deleon dons the iconic mask and embarks on his mission to free the town.
Watching Delon wear the mask for the first time is tremendously satisfying, and Tessari films the action scenes with a great visual flair. However, the real heart of the movie lies in the romance between Zorro and Hortensia (played by Ottavia Piccolo), who is also determined to stop Huerta from destroying her beloved town. Delon is perfectly cast as the legendary hero. His charm and sex appeal elevate the film, which, while walking the line between adventure and camp, never fully crosses into camp thanks to Tessari’s careful direction.
Role: Piero
L’Eclisse
L’Eclisse is a 1962 romantic drama directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. The film follows Vittoria, a literary translator in Rome, as she navigates a new relationship with Piero, a stockbroker. Their romance faces challenges against the backdrop of the Roman stock exchange and an impending eclipse.
Directed by master filmmaker Michaelangelo Antonioni,The Eclipse(L’Eclisse)is a minimalist yet seductive character drama about a newly single translator who starts a relationship with a cocky stockbroker, played by Alain Delon. What starts off as a standard romance quickly turns more and more interesting as the couple’s relationship is severely tested throughout the film. While the plot is relatively straightforward, what makes the film special is its dreamlike quality, which often feels poetic. The film lures the viewer in and casts a spell with its hypnotic filmmaking.
The Eclipseis part of a trilogy of films made by Antonioni, which also includesLa’AvventuraandLa Notte.It played at the 1962 Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Palme d’Or. The film is widely regarded as Antonioni’s most important film, with admirers such as Martin Scorcese. In his documentaryMy Voyage to Italy, Scorcese shared howThe Eclipse"haunted and inspired him as a young moviegoer."
Role: Rocco Parondi
Rocco and His Brothers
Rocco and His Brothers is a 1960 Italian drama directed by Luchino Visconti. The film follows an impoverished widow and her five sons as they move to the city, where familial bonds are tested when two brothers become romantic rivals, leading to tragic consequences.
Rocco and his Brothers (Rocco e i suoi fratelli) is an epic family crime drama that helped put Alain Delon on the map. Despite its nearly three-hour runtime, the film remains captivating, thanks to its ambitious storytelling and outstanding performances. Its exploration of themes like striving for a better life, family loyalty, and violence being passed down across generations feels timeless and incredibly relevant.
Delon stars as Rocco the oldest of five brothers who move with their mother to Italy’s northern region after their father’s death. While the siblings work hard to find opportunities, they gradually descend into crime. A fierce rivalry develops between Rocco and his hothead brother Simone when they both fall for the exquisite Nadia.
The film can be tough to watch due to its bleakness, but it remains immensely compelling throughout. Initially met with mixed reviews in Italy,Rocco and his Brothersis now considered one of the greatest Italian films ever made.It was even a huge inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola while makingThe Godfather.
7Dirty Money (1972)
Role: Edouard Coleman
Dirty Money (Un Flic)is the final film by French master and frequent Alain Delon collaborator, Jean-Pierre Melville. While it may be considered a minor work compared to their earlier films, it remains a worthwhile and tense crime thriller, serving as an intriguing footnote in both artists' careers.
The most interesting aspect ofthe film is that it is a complete inversion of their earlier work.While Delon often played roguish criminals in Melville’s films, this time he takes on the role of a police chief. His character befriends a local nightclub owner, only to uncover that the man is a bank robber planning one final heist. Watching Delon pursue the ruthless criminal is entertaining to watch, particularly as he embodies the dispirited lawman he was so often pitted against in previous roles. Catherine Deneuve is also memorable playing the quintessential femme fatale role, looking as beautiful as ever.
The Swimming Pool
The Swimming Pool, released in 1969, unfolds in a villa near St. Tropez, where lovers Jean-Paul and Marianne enjoy a tranquil summer until Marianne’s former lover and his teenage daughter arrive. Their presence ignites unease and tension, leading to a complex and perilous emotional entanglement among the four.
InThe Swimming Pool (La Piscine), Alain Delon and Romy Schneider play lovers on vacation at a luxurious French villa in this slow-burn, seductive thriller. What begins as a romantic character drama takes a darker turn when the couple is visited by an old friend and his teenage daughter. The film is filled with juicy twists and turns, andits charm lies in watching its beautiful cast behave badly for two hours in a stunningly picturesque setting.
The character work is superb, delving into raw human insecurities with surprising depth. Delon and Schneider, who had dated before making this film, radiate chemistry that is off the charts. Their scenes together sizzle, and it’s fun to see a fresh side to Delon. His character retains his rugged charm, but is looser and more self-assured than usual, which makes the film feel more unpredictable, especially in the second half when everything begins to unravel for the central couple.
