Alphaville
Seen it?1965 | 99 min | Drama, Science Fiction, Mystery
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (92% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office loss. 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 sci-fi fans. If you loved Moon or Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense, mind-bending.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 39 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1965: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Lemmy Caution is on a mission to eliminate Professor Von Braun, the creator of a malevolent computer that rules the city of Alphaville. Befriended by the scientist’s daughter Natasha, Lemmy must unravel the mysteries of the strictly logical Alpha 60 and teach Natasha the meaning of the word “love.”
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 92 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.9 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Won 1 Berlin award: Golden Bear.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$47K worldwide on a $220K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 90K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard
- Eddie ConstantineLemmy Caution
- Anna KarinaNatacha von Braun
- Akim TamiroffHenri Dickson
- Valérie Boisgel2nd Seductress Third Class (uncredited)
- Jean-Louis ComolliProf. Jeckell (uncredited)
- Michel Delahayevon Braun's Assistant (uncredited)
- Christa Lang1st Seductress Third Class (uncredited)
- Jean-Pierre LéaudBreakfast Waiter (uncredited)
- Szabó LászlóChief Engineer (uncredited)
- Howard VernonLéonard von Braun (uncredited)