Jean Gabin prolonged his career by teaming with younger stars - this one reunites him with Alain Delon, who also produced. It's a pretty good crime melodrama - it seems to have been influenced by the Warner Bros gangster flicks of the 30s and 40s. You could imagine, say, John Garfield and Edward G Robinson doing it.
Delon gets out of prison and comes under the watch of parole officer Gabin. Delon is tempted by his old gang, who include Victor Lanoux... and young punk Gerard Depardieu. I wish these two had more screen time because they're great.
This has some silly moments - montages of Delon frolicking - not enough action, and occasionally drags. But a lot of it is good too - the ending, with Delon going to the guillotine, is great. It has a down beat fatalistic mood that is effective, even it at times it seems shot like a TV movie.
Delon is a bit pretty at times but very effective. Gabin has a great sad eyed look. Mimsy Farmer pops up as Delon's second girlfriend (he has one who waits for him when he's in prison but is killed off quite quick)..
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