A police inspector (Yves Montand) and a police commissioner (Francois Perier) share a mistress (Stefania Sandrelli) though each man is unaware of the other. When the police commissioner kills his mistress in a fit of rage, he assigns the inspector to the case. But the circumstantial evidence builds indicating the the police inspector is the murderer. Will he be able to prove his innocence? Based on the novel THE BIG CLOCK by Kenneth Fearing (previously filmed in 1948 and again in 1987 under the title NO WAY OUT) and directed by Alain Corneau (CHOICE OF ARMS). A very dark, one might say nihilistic, thriller that goes farther than either THE BIG CLOCK or NO WAY OUT. In his desperation to prove his innocence, Montand's cop becomes a criminal himself (including murder) therefore eradicating any sympathy for him. The film also gives Perier's police commissioner a wife (Simone Signoret) who is complicit in covering up the mistress's murder. A tough, even nasty, crime film and Corneau keeps the screws tightening. With Mathieu Carriere and Vadim Glowna.
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