Razzia (1955)

Henri, the Man from Nantes, comes back to his country after a successful stay in the United States, where he was working for Liski, the drug dealer. With the fame of being a tough guy ... See full summary »

Director:

Henri Decoin

Writers:

Auguste Le Breton (based on the novel by), Henri Decoin (adaptation)

Stars:

Jean Gabin, Marcel Dalio, Lino Ventura

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean Gabin	...	Henri Ferré dit 'Le Nantais'
Marcel Dalio	...	Paul Liski (as Dalio)
Lino Ventura	...	Roger le Catalan
Albert Rémy	...	Bibi
Lila Kedrova	...	Léa
Pierre-Louis	...	L'inspecteur Leroux - de la brigade mondaine
Jacqueline Porel	...	Solange Birot
Roland Armontel	...	Louis Birot, l'ingénieur-chimiste (as Armontel)
Françoise Spira	...	Yvonne, la dame des lavabos
Josselin	...	Fredo
Simone Sylvestre	...	La compagne de l'homme au revolver
Olivier Darrieux	...	(as Jean Olivier)
Magali Noël	...	Lisette
François Patrice	...	Jo
Suzy Willy	...	La patronne du restaurant

Storyline

Henri, the Man from Nantes, comes back to his country after a successful stay in the United States, where he was working for Liski, the drug dealer. With the fame of being a tough guy preceding him, he sets himself to the task of knowing why the French operations were not so profitable - and soon he is master of all links of the organization. He can now get it honed to perfection - or destroy it. Only... the Police is following his every step! Is Henri what he says he is, or an undercover detective from the French police?

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Plot Keywords:

pool table | cigar | red wine | rum | opium | 

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Taglines:

Another SHOCKER by the Author of "RIFIFI"

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The title is French gangster slang for "raid on the drugs," meaning a police raid on the drug trade.

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Connections

Featured in My Journey Through French Cinema (2016)

User Reviews

Routine 50's noir

Decoin started as a sports reporter, and there is much more of trying to describe the milieu of drug users than moving the story forward. Gabin does a good job playing the international criminal brought in to revamp a drug ring by the sleek, sinister Dalio. Albert Remy and Lino Ventura as the killers are appropriately thuggish. Magali Noel, with her adorable sloe-eyed look and sensual mouth, is Gabin's girl-friend. Fellini must have loved her, he used her in three pictures.

At about the 60 minute mark, the film goes badly off the rails with the arrival of Lila Kedrova's junkie character; we're shunted off to one louche bar after another (gay and lesbian thrills abound) in the search for drugs. You are left waiting impatiently for the final shoot-out that you are sure will happen.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

7 April 1955 (France)

Also Known As:

Razzia

Filming Locations:

Orly Airport, Orly, Val-de-Marne, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jad Films, Société Nouvelle des Établissements Gaumont (SNEG), Wager-Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min 101 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1