Call me if you need me! After a stint in the United States, gangster Henri Ferret, nicknamed "Nantes," returns to Paris to help reconstruct an underground drug distribution network that is malfunctioning. To cover the bandits give him the possession of the bar “Troquet” with a beautiful cashier Lisette.
Henri tries to track the entire chain of obtaining, selling and using drugs to fix the problems. He does not hesitate in the means to achieve the goal. Lisette falls in love with her new boss, who asks her for one favor: in case of danger, call a mysterious friend.
A black-and-white film, with excellent camera plans capable of decorating any film noir. An example is when Lizette, performed by the beautiful Lily Cedrovoy, climbs the stairs to Henri’s apartment (Jean Gabin, who would doubt it).
An additional bonus is the presence of jazz music, the atmosphere of the Parisian nightclub of the 1950s, camera movements, naturalism, the mores of the criminal environment of the time. They say that connoisseurs of French will be able to appreciate Parisian slang, but this pleasure is not available to me, alas.
A few words about Lila Kedrova. Actress of Russian origin, daughter of Nikolai Kedrov – professor of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, head of the court singing chapel, creator of the world-famous quartet. For the role of Lizette Lill in “Roundup on the cronies” received the award “Cesar”.
Another work by Jean Gabin and Lino Ventura in the collection of Serie Noire.
8 out of 10