Alain Delon 1935-2024

The unbelievably handsome actor Alain Delon, 1935-2024.

The French actor Alain Delon died yesterday at the age of 88. Delon was an icon of European cinema, and a towering figure in French culture. True to his reputation as a lover of animals, the announcement of Delon’s death mentioned his dog as well as his children.  

Thanks to his striking good looks, Delon was offered a contract by producer David O. Selznick in 1957, but he turned it down. Delon forged his own path through cinema, and it did not often involve Hollywood. He quickly became a star in France, and 1960’s Plein Soleil (released in the United States as Purple Noon, even though the French translates to Full Sun) established Delon as an international star. Delon’s performance as Tom Ripley was a perfect blend of charm and danger. The contrast between Delon’s angelic looks and Ripley’s immoral actions was highly effective.  

No summary of Alain Delon’s life and career would be complete without mentioning his looks. To say that Alain Delon was handsome is not enough—it’s like saying the Louvre is just a museum, or the Beatles were just a band. Delon was often described as the most handsome man in the movies, and I would agree with that. Delon had a full head of black hair, piercing blue eyes, high cheekbones, and arched eyebrows that made his face very expressive. The camera loved Delon, and directors quickly figured out that he was an actor capable of delivering expressive performances even with minimal dialogue. A perfect example is the 1967 film Le Samourai. There’s no dialogue until about 10 minutes into the movie, and you don’t need any dialogue—Delon’s face tells the story and gives you all the information you need.  

Delon made several American films, starting with a role in the 1964 anthology film The Yellow Rolls-Royce. In 1965 and 1966, Delon made his biggest push in Hollywood, as he starred in Once a Thief, with Ann-Margret, Lost Command, with Anthony Quinn, George Segal, and frequent Delon co-star Maurice Ronet, and Texas Across the River, a Western with Dean Martin. None of these films were especially successful, partially because mid-1960's Hollywood didn’t know what to do with Alain Delon. So, Delon went back to France, and I don’t blame him. He wasn’t going to find a movie like Le Samourai or La Piscine in Hollywood.  

Delon kept churning out the hits in France, stylish crime thrillers like The Sicilian Clan, and Borsalino with fellow French heartthrob Jean-Paul Belmondo. One of Delon’s finest performances came in 1976’s Monsieur Klein, which features the theme of being someone’s double—also a key element in Plein Soleil and La Piscine. Delon was also a producer of many of his 1970’s films, and he eventually branched out into other ventures, such as men’s cologne.  

Controversy followed Delon numerous times. In 1968, Delon’s bodyguard Stevan Markovic was found dead in a garbage dump. Delon was questioned, but never charged with any crime. The case turned into a lurid tabloid scandal, as allegations were made that Markovic had photos of Prime Minister George Pompidou’s wife in compromising positions, and that Markovic was planning to blackmail Pompidou. The case only increased the French public’s fascination with Delon, and his career was unscathed. The Sicilian Clan and La Piscine were the third and fourth highest-grossing films in France for 1969. Even late in life, Delon still made headlines, as earlier in 2024 his children were pursuing legal actions against each other, regarding their father’s health and care. The life of an icon is not always an easy one.  

In the United States, Delon never became a household name, but more of a cult figure of cool. I first encountered Delon’s films when I saw Le Samourai at a revival movie house in 1997. It was a new print of the film, and upon seeing Le Samourai I immediately thought that Alain Delon was the coolest, most handsome guy I had ever seen. All these years later, I’d say that 16-year-old me hit the nail on the head.  

Thanks to DVD’s and streaming services, it’s never been easier for American fans to watch the masterpieces of Alain Delon’s lengthy career. Delon’s films continue to find audiences—in 2021, La Piscine was held over for 18 weeks at the Film Forum in New York City, a testament to that film’s beauty, and the performances by Delon, Romy Schneider, Maurice Ronet, and Jane Birkin.  

Delon’s romantic relationship with Romy Schneider had been over for years by the time they filmed La Piscine together in 1968. But watching the film, you see the deep emotional connection Delon and Schneider shared. One of my favorite extras of the Criterion Collection DVD of La Piscine is the footage of Delon greeting Schneider at the airport just before filming of the movie began. You can see the sheer joy and delight on their faces upon seeing each other again. And Delon speaks so highly of Schneider’s talent as an actress, and how he convinced director Jacques Deray that she was the perfect choice for the role.  

Alain Delon was always much more than a pretty face. Delon was a fantastic actor, and his performances are masterpieces of naturalism. Delon was also an avid art collector—much of his collection was sold in 2023 in an auction by Bonhams Paris, with the proceeds amounting to $8.8 million. Like his fellow French star and sex symbol Brigitte Bardot, Delon was a lover of animals, and he was especially devoted to his dogs. Alain Delon was truly a Renaissance man, and he will be missed by fans of cinema throughout the world. But I feel confident in saying that Delon’s legendary performances will live on through many generations.  

Movie Review: La Piscine, (The Swimming Pool) starring Alain Delon and Romy Schneider, directed by Jacques Deray (1969)

 

Cover of the Criterion Collection 2021 Blu-Ray of La Piscine

Romy Schneider and Alain Delon make an attractive couple.

Alain Delon as Jean-Paul, Maurice Ronet as Harry. Both actors give impressive performances.

Jane Birkin as Penelope.

A tense dinner between the four main characters of La Piscine.

Movies always make swimming pools seem more magical than they are in real life. In the movies, pools never need cleaning, and they don’t get full of leaves and debris. The French film La Piscine, from 1969, released in the US as The Swimming Pool the following year, makes an attractive argument in favor of pools. Much of the attractiveness is thanks to the two leading actors, Alain Delon and Romy Schneider. Delon, regarded by many cinema aficionados as one of the most handsome men ever to grace the silver screen, had thick, black hair, piercing blue eyes, high cheekbones, and a terrific sense of sartorial style. Schneider had gorgeous blue eyes, high cheekbones, and a figure that is very well accentuated by the swimsuits that Andre Courreges designed for the film.

Delon and Schneider were a couple in the early 1960’s, and were even engaged for a while, but never married. By the time La Piscine was filmed, they were both married to other people. Delon and Schneider have incredible chemistry together, which adds greatly to the sensuality of the film.

Delon and Schneider play Jean-Paul and Marianne, a couple on vacation on the French Riviera. They’ve rented a gorgeous house with an amazing swimming pool. Then their friend Harry (Maurice Ronet) and his daughter Penelope (Jane Birkin) stop by to stay for a few days. And complications ensue. To say more would be superfluous. La Piscine unspools slowly, much like a long day at the beach. (Don’t read the Google plot summary, which gives away far too much of the plot.)

All four actors give excellent performances, and they’re fascinating to watch. Ronet gives Harry the necessary charm, and it’s easy to understand why people would be drawn to him. Delon gives a moody, naturalistic performance. Schneider is fantastic—like Delon, she gives the role a naturalistic feel. Birkin looks gorgeous and stylish, and casting her was an excellent choice. Birkin’s first language is English, so having her speak French adds a layer of slight discomfort that fits Penelope very well.

The Criterion Collection Blu-Ray of La Piscine features a gorgeous transfer of the film, and it adds some fascinating extras as well. There’s a short documentary from 2019 made by Agnes Vincent-Deray, widow of the director Jacques Deray. It’s touching to watch Delon speak about his love and respect for Romy Schneider. It was Delon who fought for Schneider to be cast, telling Deray and the producers, “Use Romy or it won’t work.” Delon was right. To see the connection and chemistry between Delon and Schneider, all you have to do is watch the brief archive footage of Delon greeting Schneider at the Nice airport in 1968, just before filming began. Delon is the very picture of the suave European movie star, all smiles as he embraces Romy as she walks down the stairs onto the tarmac.

One of the most fascinating extras is the English-language version of La Piscine, filmed at the same time with the same cast. It’s a bit crazy to think of Deray yelling “cut!” during a sexy scene of Delon and Schneider making out together and then filming it again in English.

La Piscine was a huge hit in France when it was released in early 1969, and it was the first of 9 films that Delon and Deray made together. La Piscine has slowly gained a cult following in the United States over the years, and the film has made headlines this year as it’s run at the Film Forum in New York City, originally supposed to be 2 weeks, was extended by popular demand to 18 weeks. Perhaps the languid summer of 2021 is the perfect time for the languid rhythms of La Piscine.