La Scoumoune

Released in 1972, La Scoumoune, a French-Italian production, was written and directed by José Giovanni, adapting his own novel L'Excommunié for the screen. Jean-Paul Belmondo takes the lead role, joined by Claudia Cardinale and Michel Constantin in principal parts, and the picture is categorized as a crime and prison drama.

Notably, the story was not new territory: Belmondo had already played this same character over a decade earlier in Jean Becker's 1961 film Un nommé La Rocca, which was likewise drawn from Giovanni's novel. Running close to one hundred one minutes, this production stands among the tough, underworld-set pictures Giovanni made during the early 1970s. Supporting cast members include Dominique Zardi, Michel Peyrelon and Philippe Brizard. Following its French premiere, the picture reached audiences in Germany, Iran and other European markets under a variety of local titles.