Maigret Voit Rouge (aka Maigret Sees Red) (1963)

Three men cruising Paris's Pigalle district in a Chevrolet, shoot a bystander (Harry Max). Shortly after, the body is stolen. Inspector Maigret (Jean Gabin) suspects a ring of U.S. mobsters. This leads him to a bar where Americans gather and a mysterious femme fatale (Francoise Fabian) works. Based on the novel MAIGRET, LOGNON AND THE GANGSTERS by Georges Simenon and directed by Gilles Grangier (SPEAKING OF MURDER). I enjoyed the other two Maigret movies with Jean Gabin I've seen, MAIGRET SETS A TRAP and MAIGRET AND THE SAINT FIACRE CASE but this one seemed a little off to me. It might have something to do with the introduction of American gangsters into the mix. Their portrayal seemed cliched and stereotyped as if Grangier had seen too many American gangster movies and exaggerated what he took from them. As usual, Gabin is a treasure and his commanding presence anchors the film. A shade disappointing but still worth catching. With Marcel Bozzuffi, Roland Armontel, Paul Frankeur, Paul Carpenter and Pauline Dubost.