Touchez Pas au Grisbi (1954)

An aging, world-weary gangster is double-crossed and forced out of retirement when his best friend is kidnapped and their stash of eight stolen gold bars demanded as ransom.

Director:

Jacques Becker

Writers:

Albert Simonin (novel), Jacques Becker (adaptation)

Stars:

Jean Gabin, René Dary, Dora Doll

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean Gabin	...	Max dit Max le Menteur
René Dary	...	Henri Ducros dit Riton
Dora Doll	...	Lola
Vittorio Sanipoli	...	Ramon
Marilyn Buferd	...	Betty (as Marilyn Bufferd)
Gaby Basset	...	Marinette
Paul Barge	...	Eugène (as Barge)
Alain Bouvette	...	Le chauffeur de taxi (as Bouvette)
Daniel Cauchy	...	Fifi
Denise Clair	...	Madame Bouche
Angelo Dessy	...	Bastien
Michel Jourdan	...	Marco
Paul Oettly	...	Oscar
Jean Riveyre	...	Le portier de l'hôtel Moderna
Delia Scala	...	Hughette - la secrétaire d'Oscar

Storyline

The middle age bon-vivant Max is a former gangster and close friend of his partner Riton. They have stolen eight gold bars of 12 kg each that worth 50-million francs and Max has kept them hidden for their retirement. Riton's mistress Josy is tired of him and has found a new lover to support her, Angelo, who is a dangerous gangster. Riton has made a comment to Josy about the gold and soon Angelo discovers that Max and Riton have the stolen gold. He abducts Riton to force Max to give the gold to him. Will Max exchange his gold for Riton?

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Plot Keywords:

gold | french noir | heist | paris france | betrayal | 

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Taglines:

From the demi-mondes of Paris...with its pimps, its pushers, its passions, from the world of "RIFIFI" and "RAZZIA"...an electrifying adventure in suspense!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Rialto Pictures

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

February 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

Touchez Pas au Grisbi

Filming Locations:

Avenue Frochot, Paris 9, Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$21,674, 7 September 2003, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$131,548, 12 February 2004

Company Credits

Production Co:

Del Duca Films, Antares Produzione Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #271.

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Goofs

In the newspaper at the end of the movie, they said "Police recovered suitcases containing gold bars stolen". Gold melt around 1064° C (1947 ° F), and when a car burns, the temperature can exceed 1200° C (2192 ° F). That means they couldn't find the gold bars (neither the suitcases) but only a molted gold clusters.

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Quotes

Max: That's the trouble with young people - they're so doggone young!

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Connections

Featured in A Journey Through French Cinema (2016)

User Reviews

Touchez-pas AA Grisbi

This movie is undoubtedly the best movie in the world ever. I've seen it about 10 times over the years, and every time it is fresh and fascinating. It's so beautiful but bad story about friendship and betrayal between two elderly gangsters, but it is also a story about aging and disappointment.

Jean Gabin's performance is the crowning jewel of this gem of a film. An extra bonus is a young Jeanne Moreau as a cabaret dancer. The final gunfight still stands strong among today's cg-filled action scenes. Definitely the pinnacle of Jacques Becker's work, but don't forget the marvelous Golden Helmet (Casque d'or) and The Night Watch (Le Trou).