Inseparable from “Professional”, which returns this Monday, September 18th at 9:10 p.m. on France 3. The song “Chi Mai” was not originally written for the film starring Jean-Paul Belmondo.
“Chi Mai” is THE music of the “professional” on everyone’s lips. It’s on this piece, written by Ennio Morricone ends the film by Georges Lautner, released in 1981 and broadcast this Monday, September 18th at 9:10 p.m. on France 3. It is also this music, performed by the musicians of the Republican Guard, that was chosen for the national tribute Jean Paul Belmondo in Invalides, September 9, 2021, a few days after his death.
And yet Ennio Morricone’s play was absolutely not written for The Professional. “Chi Mai” was actually composed ten years ago. This music was originally written for the 1971 Italian film “Maddalena” by Jerzy Kawalerowicz, in which Lisa Gastoni plays a married woman who falls madly in love with a priest.
A decision by Jean-Paul Belmondo
It was Jean-Paul Belmondo, who had heard Ennio Morricone’s composition on the radio, who insisted on including it on the soundtrack of the film The Professional. A decision that is of great importance for the feature film, as it delivers a final sequence that is as unforgettable as it is moving. So much so that it served as a farewell for Jean-Paul Belmondo, who died on September 6, 2021 at the age of 88.
Moreover, as the anecdote goes, it was not the actor’s only decision that changed the fate of the film. It was “Bebel” and director George Lautner who insisted that the film end with a tragic ending, the death of the hero, contradicting the wishes of the producers, who were afraid of public backlash and the financial consequences that such a thing would have decision could entail. A time risk that paid off. We can say it, Belmondo had flair!
“Le Professionnel” will be broadcast this Monday, September 18, 2023 on France 3. If you can’t watch it from 9:10 p.m., you can find Belmondo in one of his biggest roles streaming on MyCanal or Prime Video with a Premium subscription. It is also available to purchase and rent on most VOD platforms.
