Film Synopsis
Paris, 1942. Even though France is under Nazi occupation, René
Bornier, better known as René la Canne, is making a reasonable living
for himself as a small-time crook. His luck runs out when he is arrested
by the German police and incarcerated with Marchard, a policeman who is mixed
up with the Resistance. To save his neck, the latter accepts René's
advice and passes himself off as a petty criminal. The two men end
up being sent to Germany as forced labourers in a printing works. René
and his new friend take advantage of their newfound freedom to seduce two
German bargirls. The unexpected appearance of René's girlfriend
Krista brings an abrupt end to their happy idyll. The crook is forced
to kill a German officer when he attempts to rape Krista, and ends up having
to go on the run.
After the Liberation, Marchand is back in France, now promoted to the rank
of police inspector, whilst his friend René runs a dodgy import-export
business in Marseille. Krista, now the proud owner of a brothel, is
glad to renew her acquaintance with Marchand and soon becomes his mistress.
It isn't long before René's dubious business activities come to the
attention of the police, and Marchand is, ironically, the man who is charged
with bringing him to book. There isn't a prison in France that hold
René la Canne for long, and the crook is soon on the run again.
Marchand is once more on his tail after he pulls off a hold-up in Deauville.
The two friends finally resolve their differences and head off to Switzerland
to start a new life with René's ill-gotten gains...
© James Travers
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