Razzia sur la chnouf

1955 French film

7 April 1955 (1955-04-07)

Running time

105 minutesCountryFranceLanguageFrenchBox office2,906,148 admissions (France)^[1]

Razzia sur la chnouf (French for "Raid on the Dope") is a 1955 French gangster film directed by Henri Decoin that stars Jean Gabin, Lino Ventura, Lila Kedrova and Magali Noël. The screenplay, based on a novel by Auguste Le Breton, explores the contemporary drug scene in Paris and the efforts of the police to limit it. The film was released as Razzia in the United States,^[2] distributed by Kassler Films Inc. with English subtitles by Herman G. Weinberg.

Plot

After a spell in the US, master criminal Henri "le Nantais" returns to Paris and is recruited by Paul Liski, head of a major narcotics ring, to improve efficiency of distribution. Merchandise has been disappearing and unreliable dealers must be eliminated. For the latter purpose he is assigned two hit men, Catalan and Bibi. As his cover, he is made manager of a restaurant, Le Troquet, much favoured by the underworld. As soon as he walks in, he catches the eye of the cashier, Lisette, who resolves to be his girl. The first task he is given is a courier who wants out, not understanding that there is only one way to leave the organization: Catalan and Bibi kill him. Then he visits a laboratory and takes its stock to the port of Le Havre, to be shipped overseas. The chemist at the laboratory is found to have given more drugs to the courier than instructed, so he's roughed up by Catalan and Bibi, while the courier is killed after being found by Henri. Soon, the organization learns that the police found the whole consignment.

Police pressure intensifies, with a raid on Le Troquet in which staff and customers are all taken in for questioning. They exempt Lisette, who has moved into Henri's apartment upstairs. After being released, Henri gives her a number to ring if Henri's life is in danger. Henri continues his investigations into weak links, visiting among other sordid spots a Chinese opium den and a club for black marijuana smokers. When Catalan and Bibi are sent on a job, they walk into a police ambush and escape wounded, after killing two cops. They rush round to Le Troquet and demand Henri take them to Liski, whom they want to provide them with a place to lay low. Lisette overhears the story and makes the phone call. When the three go to Liski's house, he gives them a map and the keys to a country hideaway. Shortly after they arrive, police raids the house. Henri reveals he's an undercover detective and holds Catalan and Bibi at gunpoint, who decide to fight back and get killed, wounding Henri in the arm in the process. The police, who had been alerted by Lisette, take Henri back to headquarters, where the whole drug ring from Liski downwards has been arrested.