Curiosidades

According to Melville, Jean-Luc Godard asked him for consultation during the post-production stage of "Breathless" because the first edit was too long for distribution. Melville suggested Godard remove all scenes that slowed down the action (his own turn as the novelist Parvulesco included). However, instead of excluding entire scenes, Godard cut little bits from here and there. This led to the "jump cut" technique this movie introduced. Melville declared the result to be excellent.

One of the favorite directors of Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, Jim Jarmusch, Michael Mann, Johnnie To, John Woo, Takeshi Kitano, Hossein Amini and Aki Kaurismäki.

Considered the 'godfather' of the French New Wave.

Considered to be the first 'independent filmmaker' in France, because he managed to produce films outside the traditional French film industry. The directors of the French New Wave were especially impressed and inspired by this autonomy.

"As one of his films after another is rediscovered, Melville is moving into the ranks of the greatest directors." Roger Ebert said.

Took his name out of admiration for Herman Melville.

Member of the 'Official Competition' jury at the 13th Berlin International Film Festival in 1963.

Two actors received a BAFTA nomination under Melville's direction: Nicole Stéphane for As Crianças Terríveis (1950) and Jean-Paul Belmondo for Léon Morin - O Padre (1961).

For many years before his death, he insisted to interviewers that he would, like his father before him, die at the age of 55. And he did.

Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume Two, 1945-1985". Pages 670-675. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1988.