Les Arnaud (1967)
Directed by Léo Joannon

Film Synopsis

In Aix-en-Provence, André Arnaud is a hard-working law student with a promising career ahead of him, but he runs into some difficulty when the uncle who has been paying for his education suddenly dies whilst working on a construction site.  The only option open to him is to accept a loan from an antiquarian, but in doing so he is merely getting himself into deeper trouble.  His supposed benefactor turns out to be a blackmailing rogue, and André is driven to murder the villain when he attempts to extort money from him.  Helped by Lætitia, the attractive young woman he has fallen in love with, André manages to evade the police, but the one person he cannot deceive is Henri Arnaud, the magistrate of a children's court who has taken a particular interest in him. 

Even though there is no family connection between himself and the troubled student who shares his surname, Henri, being a bachelor, has always looked upon him with a paternal affection.  Knowing that André is responsible for the murder, he pursues him relentlessly and finally succeeds in convincing him that he is on his side.  Henri intends not only to adopt André as his son but also to offer him all the support he can during and after the time he is in prison.  André responds to his guardian angel's kindness by doing what he asks.  In doing so, he pays his debt to society and gains a valuable friend who will help him to succeed in his future career.