Razzia Sur La Chnouf (1955)

Returning to France from a stint in the United States, a skilled criminal (Jean Gabin) in the narcotics market is recruited by the head (Marcel Dalio) of a major drug ring. As his cover, he is made the manager of a restaurant frequented by the drug world. Based on the novel by Auguste Le Breton and directed by Henri Decoin (LA VERITE SUR BEBE DONGE). The film explores the business of narcotics, the men who run the drug scene, their dealers and junkies. It's graphic about the seamy underbelly of drugs in a way that would never have been possible in an American film at the time, not even THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM went this far. There's also a sex act between a black man and white woman that never would have been allowed in a 1955 Hollywood movie. The end of the film, however, is surprisingly and disappointingly conventional. As usual, Jean Gabin's imposing screen presence holds your attention but there are some excellent supporting performances. Notably Lila Kedrova (ZORBA THE GREEK) as a pathetic junkie. If Marc Lanjean's jazz underscore sounds a bit like Michel Legrand, it could be because Legrand did the orchestrations. With Lino Ventura, Magali Noel, Paul Frankeur and Marcel Bozzuffi.