L’HERITIER (THE INHERITOR)


The Inheritor is a popular Jean- Paul Belmondo star vehicle of the early 1970s. After appearing in films by Jean- Luc Godard (Breathless, Pierrot le Fou), he then moved into a range of action comedies. This film blends the comic with the serious. At first, Belmondo is seen as a playboy, enjoying life, wealth, women...

When his parents are killed, he is forced to take over the family company – and surprises people by his involvement. The film’s screenplay works in all kinds of 20th century themes including the fascism of Italy and Germany during World War Two, the deportation of the Jews, the manipulation of markets and of international companies.

Belmondo at forty can still go into action sequences, give an ingratiatingly pleasant performance, satisfy audiences – which makes the film an interesting one to watch for those who are keen on Jean- Paul Belmondo and his career.



1. The significance of the title as used in the film about Bart, his son, audience response to this - In terms of the vast fortune and power portrayed?

2. How successful a thriller was this, the use of the thriller conventions, how successfully? The film as a big business film and insight into this world? The film as a political film and insight into Left and Right in Europe, the heritage of the war, power, politics and money?

3. How important was the World War II background for this film - guilt in Europe and the involvement of people and their money making, the contrast with the modern world? How convincing was this war background and its influence in modern France and Italy? The contrast with the African background of the film?

4. How well did the film portray the atmosphere of the Cordelles? the New York
buildings, the plane, the homes, body—guards, management and organization, power, the visit to the factories, how real a world is this? What is the average cinema audience's response to this world and its people? How fascinating is this? Is this part of the success of the film?

5. The atmosphere of the death and investigation during the credits? The impetus given by the work of detection during the film? The gradual unravelling of the mystery about the plane, Quego Cordelle, the influence on Bart, the revealing of his father-in-law as villain?

6. How attractive a character was Bart Cordelle? Jean-Paul? Belmondo's style?
As we see him in the plane, friendship with David, his background, the flashback, in order to see preparations for his role as heir, his impression of people, the role of sex and women in his life, the role of money and his use of it, the know-how in handling situations, his efficiency, his leanings to the Left, his humanity with people, talking to the factory worker, as a winner, as a loser? How much was he in control of the situation? How much a victim? The background of his success in his relating to people, the court-martial during the war? The quality of friendship, his exercise and the way that he slept, the contrast of the playboy image, his attractiveness, his relationship with Loren, payment And sexuality, his relationship with his wife and son? The investigations with Delmas, the detective, Lisa, his discovery about his father-in-law? His capacity for carrying out the plan to expose him, rescue his son, print the paper? The irony of his death then? Ultimately a loser?

7. What was the basic message in having Bart killed at the end of the film? The comment on this on the themes explored?

8. How significant was the portrayal of his wife in the film? The background of the marriage, his father's hostility, the father-in-law using his daughter, her remaining loyal to her father, the importance of the son and heir and Bart's rescuing him?

9. The influence of Bart's father and the hold that he had on him even after his death? The importance of the uncle and his hold even though he had died in the war? The memory and the importance of memories in such families? Symbolised in the search for the microfilm?

10. The role of Lisa in the film, the truth about her, Bart's interest? What was false about her, her relationship with Hugo? Her role in carrying on Bart’s work after his death?

11. The importance of such characters as Nonce, the bishop, the minister? The white influence of families like the Cordelles having Church and State power at their beck and call?

12. The quality of David's friendship for Bart? The importance of Delmas in supplying the information to Bart, and the siege in the apartment?

13. The background of the T.V. programme for Bart as Man of the Month, the newspaper importance of Bart? Bart as a public figure? The insight behind public figures and the audience liking of this?

14. How important were the various incidents like the planting of drugs, the explosions after the funeral?