: It is regarded as one of Alain Delon's definitive early roles, showcasing the "enigmatic, unreadable" screen presence that would later define his work in masterpieces like Le Samouraï .
The film stars as Thomas Vlassenroot, a Luxembourgish deserter from the French Foreign Legion during the 1961 Algerian conflict.
: The film is celebrated for its stark, high-contrast black-and-white cinematography by Claude Renoir , which emphasizes the protagonist's "unblemished" but doomed star persona.
: During the mission, Thomas has a change of heart, helps the lawyer escape, and is wounded in the process.