The Professional
Seen it?1981 | 108 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Solid across the board without standing out anywhere. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and action fans. If you loved The French Connection, start here.
- The mood
- Tense.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 1 hr 48 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
Josselin Beaumont, a French secret agent, is tasked with assassinating Njala, the president for life of Malawi in Africa. A shift in French policy means that assassinating Njala is no longer an option. But instead of recalling their agent, high-ranking officials deliberately sacrifice Beaumont by handing him over to the Malawian authorities. Arrested, tried, and imprisoned, he nevertheless manages to escape. Back in Paris after a two-year absence, he informs his superiors through Colonel Martin that he will fulfill his contract during Njala’s upcoming official visit to Paris between the 12th and 15th of this month, and that he has a few scores to settle with the D.G.S.E. The question is, should Beaumont be stopped or not?
How it earned its rating
- CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
- AudiencesSolid
7.2 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a modest audience
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 52K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Georges Lautner
- Jean-Paul BelmondoCommandant Joss Beaumont
- Robert HosseinCommissaire Rosen
- Elisabeth MargoniJeanne Baumont, épouse de Joss
- Jean-Louis RichardColonel Martin
- Jean DesaillyMinistre
- Michel BeauneCapitaine Édouard Valeras
- Cyrielle ClairAlice Ancelin
- Pierre VernierSalvatore Volfoni
- Marie-Christine DescouardDoris Frederiksen, pute présidentielle de Mme Claude
- Bernard-Pierre DonnadieuL'inspecteur Farges