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Lino Ventura

Lino Ventura

Actor · Died October 22, 1987, aged 68 · Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Angiolino Giuseppe Pasquale Ventura (14 July 1919 – 22 October 1987), known as Lino Ventura, was an Italian-born actor and philanthropist, who lived and worked for most of his life in France. He was considered one of the greatest leading men of French cinema during the 1960s and 1970s, known for his portrayal of tough characters on both sides of the law in crime dramas. Born in Parma and raised in Paris, Ventura worked as a professional wrestler before an injury ended his career. He made his film debut as a gangster in the 1954 Jacques Becker film Touchez pas au grisbi and rapidly became one of France's favourite film actors, playing opposite many other great stars and working with such leading directors as Louis Malle, Claude Sautet, and Claude Miller. Usually portraying a tough man, either a criminal or a cop, he also featured as a leader of the Resistance in the Jean-Pierre Melville-directed Army of Shadows (1969). He was nominated for a Cesar Award for his portrayal of Jean Valjean in the 1982 film adaptation of Les Misérables. After one of his four children, a daughter, was born handicapped, he and his wife founded a charity Perce-Neige (Snowdrop) which aids disabled children and their parents. Though a lifelong resident and pop cultural icon in France, Ventura always considered himself an Italian first and foremost, and never took French citizenship. He was nonetheless voted 23rd in a 2005 poll of the 100 greatest Frenchmen. ... Description above from the Wikipedia article Lino Ventura, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 13, 1919
Died
October 22, 1987 (aged 68)
From
Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Works as
Actor
Titles
47 on MovieCove · 78 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 18% in 30 days

What are Lino Ventura's films like?

Across their 45 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Crime19 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
38%
Bonds
25%
Power
17%
Survival
11%
Ideas
4%
Self
3%
Society
3%
Justice13 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal9 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival9 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 45 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 10 · Serious 12 · Dark 23

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 23 · Stylized 20 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 22 · Intense 19

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 18 · Shifting 25 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 29 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 9

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 18 · Even-paced 25 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 11 · Engaged 21 · Full focus 13

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 16 · Affecting 17 · Heavy 12

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 30 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 6

Roles they play

37 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 31 of 37 analyzed roles.

Hero
31 of 37
Shadow
2 of 37
Shapeshifter
1 of 37
Mentor
1 of 37
Threshold guardian
1 of 37
Ally
1 of 37
Show the 37 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
32
Melancholic
14
Thrilling
9
Warm
9
Absurd
7
Other
41

How their films linger

Thought-provoking17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet21
  • Tragic8
  • Ambiguous7

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Lino Ventura's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 47 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lino Ventura's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

78 credits, 47 with a MovieCove page; 27 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Finalement(2024)

    as Lino (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • La Rumba (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as un caïd

  • Sword of Gideon(1986)

    as Papa

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • La 7ème cible(1984)

    as Bastien Grimaldi

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • One Hundred Days in Palermo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as General Carlo Dalla Chiesa

  • The Ruffian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Aldo

  • Les Misérables(1982)

    as Jean Valjean / Mr. Madeleine / Champmathieu

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Espion, lève-toi(1982)

    as Sébastien Grenier

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Grilling(1981)

    as Inspector Antoine Gallien

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Sunday Lovers(1980)

    as François Quérole (sketch 'La méthode française')

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • L'homme en colère(1979)

    as Romain Dupre

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Un papillon sur l'épaule(1978)

    as Roland Fériaud

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Medusa Touch(1978)

    as Brunel

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Illustrious Corpses(1976)

    as Inspector Amerigo Rogas

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The French Detective(1975)

    as Commissioner Verjeat

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Cage(1975)

    as Julien

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Slap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Jean Douléan

  • Three Tough Guys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Father Charlie

  • A Pain in the Ass(1973)

    as Ralf Milan

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Far West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Prisoner

  • Happy New Year(1973)

    as Simon

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Right of the Maddest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Le gendarme motorisé instructeur

  • The Silent One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Clément Tibère

  • Money Money Money(1972)

    as Lino Massaro

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Valachi Papers(1972)

    as Vito Genovese

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Rum Runners(1971)

    as Cornelius von Zeelinga

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Diamond Bikini(1971)

    as Sagamore Noonan

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Last Known Address(1970)

    as Principal Inspector Marceau Leonetti

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Sicilian Clan(1969)

    as Commissaire Le Goff

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Army of Shadows(1969)

    as Philippe Gerbier

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Birds of Prey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Le rapace / Le rital

  • The Last Adventure(1967)

    as Roland

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Deux Romains en Gaule (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Un client du bar

  • Second Wind(1966)

    as Gustave "Gu" Minda

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • To Skin a Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Pascal Fabre

  • Let's Not Get Angry(1966)

    as Antoine Beretto

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Wise Guys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Laurent Dannecker

  • Cloportes(1965)

    as Alphonse Maréchal aka 'Le Malin'

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Dictator's Guns(1965)

    as Jacques Cournot

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Great Spy Chase(1964)

    as Francis Lagneau

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Monocle's Sour Laugh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Elie's Client (uncredited)

  • Weeping for a Bandit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as "El lutos"

  • Greed in the Sun(1964)

    as Hervé Marec, aka 'Le plouc'

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Crooks in Clover(1963)

    as Fernand Naudin

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Three Penny Opera(1963)

    as Brown, Polizeichef von London

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Carmen di Trastevere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Vincenzo, le caïd

  • The Devil and the Ten Commandments(1962)

    as Garigny

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Hitch-Hike (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Paul, le chauffeur de car

  • Emile's Boat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Émile Bouet

  • The Last Judgment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Giovanna's father

  • The Lions Are Loose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as le docteur André Challenberg

  • Black City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Il bandito

  • Taxi for Tobruk(1961)

    as le brigadier Théo Dumas

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • La ragazza in vetrina(1961)

    as Federico

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Mistress of the World - Part II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Biamonte

  • Mistress of the World(1960)

    as Biamonte

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Big Risk(1960)

    as Abel Davos

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Le chemin des écoliers(1959)

    as M. Tiercelin, restaurateur et as du marché noir

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • 125 rue Montmartre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Pascal

  • Witness in the City(1959)

    as Ancelin

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Marie-Octobre(1959)

    as Carlo Bernardi

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Douze heures d'horloge(1959)

    as Fourbieux

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Pensione Edelweiss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Borcher

  • The Tiger Attacks(1959)

    as Paul Lamiani

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Mask of the Gorilla (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Géo Paquet, Le Gorille

  • Montparnasse 19(1958)

    as Morel

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Three Days to Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Lino Ferrari

  • Elevator to the Gallows(1958)

    as Le Commissaire Cherrier

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Inspector Maigret(1958)

    as Inspecteur Torrence

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Dishonorable Discharge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Paulo, Claire's lover

  • The Strange Mr. Steve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Denis

  • Speaking of Murder(1957)

    as Pepito

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • To Catch a Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Bérès

  • Burning Fuse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Legentil

  • Crime and Punishment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Gustave Messonnier

  • Law of the Streets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Mario

  • Razzia(1955)

    as Roger le Catalan

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Touchez pas au grisbi(1954)

    as Angelo Fraiser

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 78 titles from 1954 to 2024; peak year 1965.

Biggest box office

Army of Shadows (1969)

$932K worldwide

Highest rated

Army of Shadows (1969)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

19542024

Peak 1965 · their film career is on the way up. Top draw in 10 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1954Screen debut· Touchez Pas au Grisbi
  • 1958First top-billed film· The Mask of the Gorilla
  • 1969Career best· Army of Shadows

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting78 of 78: 78 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score77th

By decade

1950s21 · acting1960s29 · acting1970s18 · acting1980s9 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 68% of 47 roles
545964697479

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Lino Ventura's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 77th percentile, the median of all 47; across their 45 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 76th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Approval · how many liked their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Reach · how many have seen their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Midcredits score across 47 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up27
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

31 of their 47 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Crowd Pleaser31
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Three Penny Opera (1963)

60th percentile spread · 29% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Elevator to the Gallows (1958)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 79/100 in their films, across 41 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 56. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Lino Ventura work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lino Ventura's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michel Audiard shares the most, 11.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers