Alain Delon was a real nasty director, the total opposite of what he is and was as an actor. The André Caroff"s novel - his worst one !! - it is inspired from is not better, so the movie is at least faithful to the book. Forget LE SAMOURAI when watching this crap, it will be less painful for you. The directing is destined to the basic bulk of audiences in love with Delon, not to real film noir nor great crime films connaisseurs as I am. Next week, I will comment LE CHOC, made one year earlier, also with Delon as the lead, we'll see if it is better than this one. And two hours is far far too long for such a torture. Only a couple of good scenes, when Delon kills in cold blood some unarmed hoodlums. Very rare in such a movie, where the lead character, though being a hoodlum himself, is supposed to behave with honor and bravery....