The French Detective

Overview

When political thugs murder an opponent's volunteer and also kill a cop, chief inspector Verjeat believes the politician who hired them is as guilty as the murderous goon. Verjeat's pursuit of the councilman, Lardatte, gets him a warning from his superiors. When he embarrasses Lardatte while disarming a hostage (the dead volunteer's father), Verjeat is told he's being transferred within a week. He speeds up his hunt for the goon and, with Lefévre, one of his young detectives, he engineers a complicated scheme to buy more time before the transfer. How should Verjeat play out his values of honor and duty?

Cast

Lino Ventura

Commissioner Verjeat

Patrick Dewaere

Inspector Lefèvre

Victor Lanoux

Pierre Lardatte

Julien Guiomar

General controller Ledoux

Pierre Tornade

Commissioner Pignol

Françoise Brion

Marthe Rigaux, boss of the brothel

Claude Rich

Judge Delmesse

Michel Peyrelon

Roger Portor, brother of Antoine

Claude Brosset

Antoine Portor, Lardatte's henchman

Gérard Hérold

Inspector Moitrié

Gérard Dessalles

Inspector Ransac

Jacques Rispal

Mr. Mercier, father of the young man killed