Legendary Ladies’ Man Alain Delon Draws 1,000 Women to Haneda Airport Amid Bodyguard Shooting Incident

French actor Alain Delon, who became a global star with numerous masterpieces and hits such as the film Purple Noon, and was known as the “most handsome man of the century,” has passed away. His family announced this on August 18. He was 88 years old.

In the masterpiece suspense film Purple Noon (1960) directed by René Clément, Delon gave a passionate performance as the poor and lonely young man Tom Ripley. The film was a big hit along with Nino Rota’s sweet theme song, and Delon became a worldwide star.

Later, he starred in many masterpieces and hit films, including Rocco and His Brothers (1960) and The Leopard (1963) by Italian maestro Luchino Visconti, The Veiled Lady (1963), and Le Samouraï (1967), in which he coolly played a lone hitman, establishing himself as one of the representative actors of French cinema.

Alain Delon, a Japanophile who had visited Japan many times for film promotions, was interviewed when he came to Japan on April 17, 1977.

Invited by Toshiro Mifune, with whom he had appeared in the film Red Sun (1971), Delon attended the 15th anniversary party of Mifune Productions and also promoted his starring film The Night of the Following Day.

At Haneda Airport, more than 1,000 young female Delon fans were waiting. Despite the strict security measures, which included 23 bodyguards hired by Mifune Productions, 20 airport security personnel, and 50 riot police, the fans surged towards the exit, causing a major commotion and a scuffle with the riot police. Delon had to escape through a back exit.

“It’s awful, having to leave through the back entrance.”

There were female fans who broke down in tears.

At that time, 41-year-old Delon was living with actress Mireille Darc, but he was also rumored to be involved with a new actress he had worked with. During a press conference, when reporters asked about this, he responded,

“My heart belongs to Mireille, but my body doesn’t always follow.”

While such a comment might be considered inappropriate today, back then, it was seen as part of Delon’s distinctive “Delonisms,” fitting for the “handsome man of the century.

By the way, when Mireille Darc came to Japan at that time to attend “An Evening of French Cinema,” I had the opportunity to interview her alone. When asked about Delon, she said,

 

 

“I follow his lead. If he told me to stop acting, I would. Living with him is my joy. I live giving him all of myself.”

It was impressive how she confessed her ultimate “love for Delon.”

When actress Sydney Rome, who starred with Delon in The Private Life (1974), visited Japan for a film promotion and was asked about Delon’s charm, she said:

“He has a magnetic allure. It seems to affect not only women but also men. There are always male fans surrounding him.”

She revealed the “Delon legend” that he was not only popular with women but also with men.

The 15th anniversary party of Mifune Productions was held grandly at a hotel in Tokyo, with Delon in attendance. At the party, a booklet titled Special Edition on Alain Delon, published by the Unifrance Films Japan Office, was distributed to attendees. The interview article with Delon inside the booklet drew significant attention.

The article discussed the incident in October 1968 that threatened Delon’s acting career: the murder of his bodyguard. It recounted how Delon had been questioned by authorities in connection with the case.

Stefan Markovich, who had been Delon’s bodyguard until January of that year, was found shot dead in a public trash bin near Versailles. A mafia figure, Marcantoni, who was rumored to be close to Delon, was arrested as a suspect. Delon was questioned as an important witness. The investigation was difficult, and Marcantoni was released while Delon was not indicted. The investigation concluded without identifying a clear suspect.

Delon’s candid comments about the incident were shocking at the time.

“It seems many people wanted to see me in handcuffs. Perhaps they wanted to destroy the idol they had created with their own hands. Paris is a city filled with malice.” (Special Edition on Alain Delon)

 

“But I recovered. I take pride in having emerged from that dreadful incident without compromising my professional stance. Five years later, my films have been more successful in attracting audiences than before the incident.” (Same)

 

Having overcome the incident and made a comeback, Delon solidified his status as a top star with numerous hits, including The Sicilian (1969), co-starring with Jean Gabin, Borsalino (1970), with Jean-Paul Belmondo, the action film Zorro (1975), where he played the legendary hero, and The Lights of Paris (1976).

 

Delon left behind many masterpieces and hits, making headlines with his glamorous romantic escapades and captivating both through his works and his life. He was a legendary film star, known as the “handsome man of the century.”