It is 1947 in France, right after the end of WWII. A police lieutenant, Roger Borniche, works hard chasing criminals. Nothing prepares him for what awaits him in his pursue of Emile Buisson, a convict that gets released from jail, only to pick up the bad habits that landed him in prison. With his brother, Jean-Baptiste, and the band he puts together, Emile will become one of the most dangerous men in the country.
Borniche, who narrates the story, made it his personal crusade to apprehend Buisson. Borniche did not like the way some of the methods used by his colleagues, he believed in doing his job with dignity. In the meantime, Buisson terrorized Paris. Trying to get the man, Borniche puts himself in danger. Ultimately, the detective is lucky in pressuring one of Buisson's gang members, and with his help, he is able to corner Buisson in a country inn that served as his hideout, not before putting himself, his wife and two associates in danger.
Never having seen this 1975 entry, we thought it was a rerun of the much better "Un flic" directed by Jean-Pierre Melville. The picture, directed by Jacques Deray, was based on a real incident, the personal account of the real police at the center of the story, Roger Borniche, and adapted for the cinema by the director and Alphonse Boudard. It was clearly an Alain Delon vehicle, who was at the height of his film career. The actor does not disappoint with his take on the policeman.
Jean-Louis Trintingant appears as Buisson. The role presented good opportunities for this actor playing against type. Mr. Trintingnant made an excellent contribution to our enjoyment of the film. Also in the cast, Renato Salvatori, playing a friend of Buisson. Claudine Auger is Catherine, the wife of Borniche. Jacques Marin shows up briefly as the innkeeper where Buisson is captured.
Borniche, who narrates the story, made it his personal crusade to apprehend Buisson. Borniche did not like the way some of the methods used by his colleagues, he believed in doing his job with dignity. In the meantime, Buisson terrorized Paris. Trying to get the man, Borniche puts himself in danger. Ultimately, the detective is lucky in pressuring one of Buisson's gang members, and with his help, he is able to corner Buisson in a country inn that served as his hideout, not before putting himself, his wife and two associates in danger.
Never having seen this 1975 entry, we thought it was a rerun of the much better "Un flic" directed by Jean-Pierre Melville. The picture, directed by Jacques Deray, was based on a real incident, the personal account of the real police at the center of the story, Roger Borniche, and adapted for the cinema by the director and Alphonse Boudard. It was clearly an Alain Delon vehicle, who was at the height of his film career. The actor does not disappoint with his take on the policeman.
Jean-Louis Trintingant appears as Buisson. The role presented good opportunities for this actor playing against type. Mr. Trintingnant made an excellent contribution to our enjoyment of the film. Also in the cast, Renato Salvatori, playing a friend of Buisson. Claudine Auger is Catherine, the wife of Borniche. Jacques Marin shows up briefly as the innkeeper where Buisson is captured.