Writing about a 2017 Jean-Pierre Melville retrospective at New York City’s Film Forum, Anthony Lane advised attendees to “tell nobody what you are doing. Even your loved ones—especially your loved ones—must be kept in the dark.” He said to dress in a raincoat regardless of the weather, to don a hat, bring a revolver, and if given the choice between smoking or talking, light the cigarette. These guidelines reflect the definitive Melville style. The French filmmaker, who produced his greatest works between the mid-1940s and early-1970s, is considered the father of French New Wave cinema. His endlessly tantalizing crime dramas, rife with mystery and deceit, deal with theft, murder, gangsters, and love. As such, it’s no surprise that Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino consider him a major influence. Over one week, Film Forum offers a selection of 13 of Melville’s best. —Jack Sullivan