• Source: Razzia sur la chnouf

Razzia sur la chnouf (French for "Raid on the Dope") is a 1955 French gangster film directed by Henri Decoin that stars Jean Gabin, Lino Ventura, Lila Kedrova and Magali Noël. The screenplay, based on a novel by Auguste Le Breton, explores the contemporary drug scene in Paris and the efforts of the police to limit it. The film was released as Razzia in the United States, distributed by Kassler Films Inc. with English subtitles by Herman G. Weinberg.




Plot


After a spell in the US, master criminal Henri "le Nantais" returns to Paris and is recruited by Paul Liski, head of a major narcotics ring, to improve efficiency of distribution. Merchandise has been disappearing and unreliable dealers must be eliminated. For the latter purpose he is assigned two hit men, Catalan and Bibi. As his cover, he is made manager of a restaurant, Le Troquet, much favoured by the underworld. As soon as he walks in, he catches the eye of the cashier, Lisette, who he easily seduces. The first task he is given is a courier who wants out, not understanding that there is only one way to leave the organization: Catalan and Bibi kill him. Then he visits a laboratory and takes most of its stock to the port of Le Havre, to be shipped overseas. The chemist at the laboratory is found to have given more drugs to the courier than instructed, so he's roughed up by Catalan and Bibi while the courier, who was selling the drugs on the side, is killed by them after being found by Henri. Soon, the organization learns that the police has found the consignment sent via Le Havre.
Police pressure intensifies, with a raid on Le Troquet in which all of the staff and customers are taken in for questioning. They exempt Lisette, who has moved into Henri's apartment upstairs. After being released, Henri gives her a phone number to call if she feels that his life is in danger. Henri continues his investigations into weak distribution links, visiting among other sordid spots an opium den and a club for black smokers of marijuana. When Catalan and Bibi are sent to eliminate an unreliable dealer, they walk into a police ambush and escape albeit wounded, after killing two. They immediately go to Le Troquet and demand that Henri take them to Liski, whom they want to provide them with a place to lay low. Lisette overhears and makes the phone call. When the three men go to Liski's house, he gives them money, a map and keys to his country hideaway. Shortly after they arrive, police raid the house. Henri reveals that he is an undercover detective and demands Catalan and Bibi surrender; they shoot back, killing a policeman and wounding Henri in the arm, and are killed. The police, who had been alerted by Lisette, take Henri to headquarters, where the whole drug ring from Liski downwards are, after being arrested.




Cast


Jean Gabin: Henri "le Nantais" Ferré
Magali Noël: Lisette, the cashier
Lino Ventura: Roger "le Catalan", hitman
Albert Rémy: Bibi, hitman
Paul Frankeur: Police Commissioner Fernand
Pierre-Louis: Inspector LeRoux
Marcel Dalio: Paul Liski, boss of the drug ring
Roland Armontel: Louis Birot, drug processor
Jacqueline Porel: Solange Birot, his wife
Michel Jourdan: Marcel, a pusher
Jo Peignot: Manager of the Pushers
Andre Weber: Li Chiang, a pusher
Lila Kedrova: Léa, an addict
Josselin: Fredo, a pusher
Leopoldo Frances: Assumpcion, speakeasy operator-pusher
Auguste Le Breton: Auguste "Le Breton", a gangster




References






External links


Razzia sur la chnouf at IMDb
Razzia sur la chnouf at AllMovie
Film page at Box Office Story (French)
Razzia sur la chnouf at “Cinema-francais“ (French)
Razzia movie review at The New York Times Last accessed: July 3, 2014.

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Henri Decoin
• Razzia sur la chnouf
• Razzia
• Auguste Le Breton
• Marcel Bozzuffi
• List of film noir titles
• List of French films of 1955
• List of films set in Paris
• List of films: Q–R
• Lino Ventura
• Henri Decoin