Law Breakers | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Marcel Carné |
Written by | Jean Laborde |
Produced by | Michel Ardan |
Starring | Jacques Brel |
Cinematography | Jean Badal |
Music by | Michel Colombier |
Release date |
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Running time | 111 minutes |
Country | France |
Language | French |
Law Breakers (French: Les Assassins de l'ordre) is a 1971 French crime film starring Jacques Brel, directed by Marcel Carné. It was entered into the 7th Moscow International Film Festival.[1]
Based on a real-life incident, an idealistic and dedicated magistrate is assigned to examine the case of two policemen and their inspector who have beaten a suspect to death. By the time the case is heard in court, all the witnesses and the widow's counsel have been intimidated into silence, the magistrate himself has come under heavy pressure to drop the case, and the three murderers walk free.
Plot
In Provence just before Christmas, a former prisoner suspected of robbery is dragged from his home by two policemen, taken to the police station, and beaten to death. His widow then files a charge and the case is allocated to the magistrate Bernard Level for judicial investigation. Both the two policemen and the inspector on duty deny any wrongdoing, as does the one other policeman in the station and two men then in custody, all of them claiming that the death was an accident, perhaps a heart attack. The autopsy is explicit however, so Level must either break the false testimony of at least one person in the station or find other witnesses.
His efforts unearth two new witnesses: a prostitute who was in custody at the time but was whisked out of town by the police, and a bartender who served the dead man on his way home for the last time. He recommends prosecution of the two policemen and of the inspector who covers up for them. By the time the case comes to court, all the witnesses and the widow's counsel have been intimidated into silence, while Level himself has come under intense pressure. His son has had marijuana planted on him while his girl friend, an Italian antiques dealer, has been sold a stolen object and faces deportation.
Despite the efforts of the presiding judge to get witnesses to tell the truth, the trial is a foregone conclusion and the three guilty men are acquitted. Level has to rethink his future.
Cast
- Jacques Brel as Le juge d'instruction Bernard Level
- Catherine Rouvel as Danièle Lebegue
- Paola Pitagora as Laura
- Roland Lesaffre as Saugeat
- Boby Lapointe as Louis Casso
- Jean-Roger Caussimon as Le commissaire Lagache
- Henri Nassiet as Le président du tribunal (as Henry Nassiet)
- Harry-Max as Moulard (as Harry Max)
- Pierre Maguelon as Le gardien
- Luc Ponette as Me Rivette
- Marius Laurey as Véricel
- Lucien Barjon as Mauvoisins
- Michael Lonsdale as Inspector Bertrand
- Charles Denner as Graziani
- Katia Tchenko as Graziani's assistant
References
- ^ "7th Moscow International Film Festival (1971)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 3 April 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
External links
- Law Breakers at IMDb