The French Detective

In Rouen, during a municipal election campaign, a volunteer for one candidate is beaten to death and a police officer is shot by a thug working for the rival campaign of Pierre Lardatte, a politician running on a law-and-order platform. Commissioner Verjeat and his young colleague Inspector Lefèvre take charge of the investigation, and Verjeat becomes convinced that Lardatte is as responsible as the man who pulled the trigger. Pursuing the councilman brings a warning from his superiors, and after Verjeat embarrasses Lardatte while disarming a hostage, he is told he will be transferred within the week. He and Lefèvre then work out an elaborate plan to keep the inquiry alive before the transfer takes effect.

The film was directed by Pierre Granier-Deferre, its screenplay written by Francis Veber, and it sits between The Widow Couderc and The Cage in the director's filmography. Lino Ventura plays Verjeat, with Patrick Dewaere as Lefèvre, Victor Lanoux as Lardatte, and Julien Guiomar, Pierre Tornade and Françoise Brion among the credited cast of thirty-four. Released in France in December 1975 and running 87 minutes, it blends crime, drama and thriller elements. On TMDB it holds a rating of 6.7 out of 10 from 136 votes, indicating a modest but solid response from those who have logged it.