Ginette Vincendeau is Professor of Film Studies at the University of Warwick. She is the author or editor of numerous publications including The Encyclopedia of European Cinema, Stars and Stardom in French Cinema, Pepe le Moko and (with Alastair Phillips), the forthcoming Journeys of Desire: European Actors in Hollywood.

• AcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Jean-Pierre Melville, 'An American in Paris'1. From Film Lover to Film-maker: The Life and Career of Jean-Pierre Melville2. Stylistic Exercises: 24 heures de la vie d'un clown, Les Enfants terribles, Quand du liras cette lettrre3. Melville's War: Le Silence de la mer, Léon Morin, prêtre, L'armée des ombres4. Between the New Wave and America: Bob le flambeur, Deux hommes dans Manhattan, L'Ainé des Ferchaux5. Série noire — films noirs: Le Doulos, Le Deuxième souffle6. The Delon Trilogy: Le Samouraï, Le Cercle rouge, Un flicConclusion: Neither American nor French, but MelvillianFilmographyBibliographyAppendix 1: Melville's Films at the French Box OfficeAppendix 2: Melville's Films as ActorAppendix 3: Melville's Pantheon of Sixty-four Pre-war American DirectorsIndex