The Assassination
L'Attentat
Synopsis
Darien, a left-wing police informant, is forced to lure his old friend Sadiel to Paris, allegedly to film a television special about the Third World. Sadiel, the exiled leader of a North African state, is being hunted by the ruthless Colonel Kassar, who will stop at nothing to capture his political rival. Once Sadiel arrives in Paris, Darien realizes he has been manipulated. He tries to turn back the clock, not realizing what or who he’s truly dealing with.
Top Cast
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Jean-Louis Trintignant
François Darien
Michel Piccoli
Colonel Kassar
Jean Seberg
Edith Lemoine
Gian Maria Volonté
Sadiel
Michel Bouquet
Lempereur
Bruno Cremer
Michel Vigneau
Daniel Ivernel
Antoine Acconetti
Philippe Noiret
Pierre Garcin
François Périer
René Rouannat
Roy Scheider
Michael Howard
Jacques François
Lestienne
Jean Bouise
French Officer
Denis Manuel
Azam
Marc Mazza
Captain Lardy
Jacques Richard
Acconetti's henchman
Karin Schubert
Sabine
Nigel Davenport
CIA Official
Karl-Otto Alberty
The killer
Release History & Theatrical Window
November 14, 1973
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Yves Boisset
- Screenplay & Story
- Ben Barzman, Basilio Franchina
- Original Score
- Ennio Morricone
- Original Title
- L'Attentat
- Country of Origin
- France, Germany, Italy
- Spoken Languages
- French
- Runtime
- 2h 3m
- Production Studios
- AMLF, Corona Filmproduktion, Sancrosiap, Terzafilm Produzione Indipendente, Transinter Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Yves Boisset
Ben Barzman, Basilio Franchina, Jorge Semprún
Ennio Morricone
Ricardo Aronovich
Albert Jurgenson
Giuliani G. De Negri, Tullio Odevaine, Jean Gontier, Yvon Guézel, Alfonso Sansone
Department Leadership Roster
Yves Boisset
Director
Marc Desages
Production Design
Giuliani G. De Negri
Producer
Tullio Odevaine
Producer
Ben Barzman
Screenplay
Pierre Nourry
Costume Design
Basilio Franchina
Screenplay
Yvon Guézel
Producer
Alfonso Sansone
Producer
Ennio Morricone
Original Music Composer
Ricardo Aronovich
Director of Photography
Albert Jurgenson
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Assassination.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Assassination.
WishList++
Political-Thriller
Spy Films
Spy films from Wikipedia's list and category tree plus Wikidata genre tagging.
MovieLens[20K:30K]
BD Release: 1971-1975
Movies released in 4K Blu-ray format - 1971-1975
Italian Film Music
Films with Italian composer-related scores and music. As of now I've added Ennio Morricone, Alessandro Alessandroni, and Stelvio Cipriani up through the 1970s. Next up: Bruno Nicolai.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Assassination
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Assassination about?
Darien, a left-wing police informant, is forced to lure his old friend Sadiel to Paris, allegedly to film a television special about the Third World. Sadiel, the exiled leader of a North African state, is being hunted by the ruthless Colonel Kassar, who will stop at nothing to capture his political rival. Once Sadiel arrives in Paris, Darien realizes he has been manipulated. He tries to turn back the clock, not realizing what or who he’s truly dealing with.
Who directed The Assassination?
The Assassination was directed by Yves Boisset.
Who stars in The Assassination?
The principal cast of The Assassination includes Jean-Louis Trintignant, Michel Piccoli, Jean Seberg, Gian Maria Volonté, Michel Bouquet.
When was The Assassination released and how long is it?
The Assassination was released in 1972 with a total runtime of 2h 3m.
Who composed the musical score for The Assassination?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Assassination was composed by Ennio Morricone.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Assassination?
The Assassination holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).