Themes: Dishonor Among Thieves, One Last Heist, Bank Robbery
Main Cast: Jean Gabin, René Dary, Paul Frankeur, Lino Ventura, Jeanne Moreau, Dora Doll
Release Year: 1954
Country: FR/IT
Run Time: 94 minutes
Plot
This strangely-christened French film noir was released in the U.S. as Grisbi. Jean Gabin stars as a racketeer known by the Runyonesque nickname of Max the Liar. Seeking out the finer things in life, Max intends to pull one last job and retire. After stealing a fortune in gold, our "hero" is faced with a crisis of conscience when his best friend (René Dary) is kidnapped and held for a huge ransom. Somehow Max manages to turn the tables on the abductors, but his dreams of a life of ease explode in his face. Up-and-coming leading lady Jeanne Moreau plays a pivotal role as the femme fatale who leads Dary into the hands of his kidnappers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Paul Barge; Gaby Basset - Marinette; Marilyn Buferd - Betty; Daniel Cauchy - Fifi; Jean Riveyre; Delia Scala - Hugette; Vittorio Sanipoli
Credit
Marc Maurette - First Assistant Director, Jacques Becker - Director, Marguerite Renoir - Editor, Jean Wiener - Composer (Music Score), Jean D'Eaubonne - Production Designer, Pierre Montazel - Cinematographer, Robert Dorfmann - Producer, Jacques Lebreton - Sound/Sound Designer, Jacques Carrere - Sound/Sound Designer, Jacques Becker - Screenwriter, Maurice Griffe - Screenwriter, Albert Simonin - Screenwriter, Albert Simonin - Book Author
French actor Daniel Gélin originally refused the role of Max, seeing himself as too young for the part. Gabin then agreed to do the film, and his role helped to relaunch his career, which had been suffering since the end of the World War II.
