Claude Lelouch: this is why Alain Delon and the director never collaborated

On August 18, Alain Delon died at the age of 88. The immense French actor passed away at his home in Douchy, surrounded by his three children, Anouchka, Alain-Fabien and Anthony. During his immense career, “Le Samouraï” filmed with great directors such as Luchino Visconti, Jean-Pierre Melville, Jacques Deray and Georges Lautner.

His death moved the world of cinema, even though he received a Palme d'Honneur at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019 for his entire career. “Alain, by dying, puts an end to the magnificent chapter of a bygone era, of which he was a sovereign monument. He represents the best of France's “prestige cinema”, an ambassador of elegance, talent and beauty. His disappearance creates an abysmal void that nothing and no one will be able to fill.“, declared Brigitte Bardot on social networks.

Claude Lelouch: he reveals why he never toured with Alain Delon

This Wednesday, November 13, Claude Lelouch was the guest As an asidebroadcast on Canal+. The director notably came to present his latest film, “Eventually“, released the same day in theaters and hosted by Kad Merad. During the show, the filmmaker spoke about his long career and his numerous collaborations. If he was able to direct great actors and actresses over the years, Claude Lelouch never collaborated with Alain Delon The desire was nevertheless present in the director, as he mentioned to Nathalie Levy For the film.Bastard, we love you“, Claude Lelouch had in fact first thought of the immense French actor.

“I had approached Alain Delon, but once again, we did not agree on financial issues… I did not have the means to pay him“, he explains. Ultimately, it was Johnny Hallyday who won the role in Claude Lelouch's film. “I call Alain Delon to tell him that we are not going to make the film because, when I make a film, I don't think about the money… And two seconds later, I receive a phone call from Johnny who asks me: 'How are you?', and I say to him: 'Well listen, you're going to be very well, because I'm going to give you a sublime role‘“, he recalls.