Quai des blondes

"Quai des blondes" is an early movie written by Michel Audiard, not yet in his great period with his usual stars Jean Gabin, Lino Ventura, Bernard Blier, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Paul Meurisse,... The director is Paul Cadéac, "Quai des blondes" is his unique movie, it's far from being a masterpiece, but Michel Audiard' dialogues are sometimes punchy enough to get caught. Paul Cadéac was mainly a producer of commercial action French movies like Fantomas or OSS 117, with other collaborators like André Hunebelle, Bernard Borderie or Pierre Foucaud.

Like some American thrillers, it begins in semi documentary style, describing how cigarettes smugglers work in North Africa. Then appears playboy Michel Auclair, playing a bit like Raymond Rouleau in his George Masse adventures already written by Michel Audiard. He then meets two pin ups, Barbara Laage and Madeleine Lebeau, with who he plays the seducer. We also see Jacques Dynam, Maurice Biraud, Henri Crémieu, Robert Hossein, Dario Moreno and many others. And an unexpected tough black American smuggler. Entertaining.

Just a pity the only print available was so damaged, but still watchable if you want to discover early Audiard dialogues.