Long considered a classic of European film noir, this existential gangster drama from French director Jean-Pierre Melville was released in the United States only in a severely truncated, re-edited, and overdubbed version entitled The Godson. Thirty years after its initial public airing, Le Samourai (1967) finally saw a limited American release in its intended form. Alain Delon stars as Jef Costello, a professional Parisian assassin-for-hire who, by nature of his work's solitary demands, has no friends. Although he is loved by Jane Lagrange (Natalie Delon, the star's real-life wife), Costello knows that Jane already has a lover. After he successfully wipes out a nightclub owner at the behest of his boss, Costello discovers that he was seen by the club's pianist, Valerie (Cathy Rosier). Although he survives a police lineup thanks to a lie offered up by the fearless Valerie, Costello's alibi disintegrates rapidly and his shadowy employer takes out a contract on him. As he seeks revenge on his betrayer, Costello must also stay one step ahead of a wily, determined superintendent (Francois Perier). Melville's film influenced several other filmmakers and projects, most notably director John Woo's The Killer (1989).

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

In a career-defining performance, Alain Delon plays a contract killer with samurai instincts. A razor-sharp cocktail of 1940s American gangster cinema and 1960s French pop culture—with a liberal dose of Japanese lone-warrior mythology—maverick director Jean-Pierre Melville’s masterpiece Le Samouraï defines cool.

 Rene Chateau

 Criterion

 Criterion Blu-ray

Release Information:
Studio: René Chateau Vidéo

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect ratio - 1.66:1 anamorphic

Edition Details:

Trailer, widescreen, anamorphic (3:18)
Posters of the movie around the world (10)
Exclusive photos from the film (13)
Interview with Alain Delon , 4:3, black and white and excerpt of the movie :"Quand la femme s'en mêle"(7:23)
Filmographies -Static screen fro Melville and Delon

NO SUBS ON EXTRAS

DVD Release Date: March, 2002
Keep Case
Chapters: 2

• Video interviews with Rui Nogueira, author of Melville on Melville, and Ginette Vincendeau, author of Jean-Pierre Melville: An American in Paris
•  Archival interviews with Melville and actors Alain Delon, François Périer, Nathalie Delon, and Cathy Rosier
•  Theatrical trailer
• 29-page liner notes booklet featuring film scholar David Thomson, filmmaker John Woo, and selections from Melville on Melville

DVD Release Date: October 25th, 2005
Keep Case
Chapters: 24

Release Date: November 14th, 2017
Transparent Blu-ray Case  
Chapters: 23

***

ADDITION: Criterion - NTSC - November 05':  Well, I always thought this film's original aspect ratio was 1.66 - the René Chateau DVD image is exactly 1.66:1. Criterion advertises 'presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1' - theirs is about 1.83:1. I don't see any chopped heads and only minor (and seemingly inconsequential) information appears removed at times from the sides and tops - and it is not consistent. A combination of opening-up, zooming, cropping and vertical (or horizontal) stretching or compressing has taken place. Generally the Criterion shows more information on the sides and less on the top and bottom. I don't consider either DVD image to be violently affecting the film expression so lets just drop that issue for the moment. I suspect both transfers may be culprits in some minor ratio manipulations although overall the Criterion is displaying more information.

The René Chateau is brighter than the Criterion and many colors are different (see the car when the license plates is being changed as one example). It is impossible for me to determine which is more correct at this time. The DVDs look equally sharp and crisp - with the Criterion being a minute notch ahead.

Subtitle translations are occasionally different. I suspect that the Criterion are more literally accurate, but the René Chateau more figuratively translated. Neither have a bearing on extravagantly adjusting the inference of the films narrative. The Criterion subtitles are small and less intrusive - both issues they are optional.

Extras, of course, go the way of Criterion. I particularly enjoyed the archival interviews. The René Chateau's supplements are in French with no subtitles offered.

1) René Chateau Vidéo (oop) - Region 0 - PAL TOP

2) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC MIDDLE

3) Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM