Bob le Flambeur

The film opens with a tracking shot around the Montmartre quarter, while Melville's narration frames the setting as both heaven and hell. The camera sweeps over the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur and the Montmartre Funicular, establishing a mood that blends beauty with danger. The narration foreshadows the double fate that will shape Bob's world.

Bob is a well-liked gambler and former bank robber who has kept a low profile for the past twenty years. He remains on good terms with Commissaire Ledru, a police official whose life he once saved. He shows a protective streak by letting Anne stay in his apartment to keep her away from Marc.

Anne moves into Bob's apartment to avoid Marc's attentions, and Bob steers her toward his young protégé Paolo, who soon becomes involved with her. This arrangement underscores Bob's network and his role as a facilitator. The dynamic hints at the influence these relationships will have on the planned heist.

Through Roger, Bob learns that the casino safe will hold around 800 million francs by 5:00 a.m. on race day. He decides to pull off the job, enlisting financing from McKimmie and assembling a team. Jean provides floor plans and safe specifications, and is paid with some of the money.

The smitten Paolo brags about the upcoming raid to impress Anne, and she, not taking him seriously, tells Marc. Marc's eagerness to verify the information puts him on Ledru's radar. The leak offends the careful balance of the plan and raises the risk of exposure.

The next morning, Anne tells Bob what she did, and he and Roger search for Marc without success. Marc tells Ledru that he has heard about the caper and needs more confirmation, so Ledru lets him go. The tension between pursuit and secrecy intensifies.

Marc is killed when Paolo locates him and shoots the man dead just as he is about to reveal what he knows to Ledru. The leak is effectively silenced, but the plan itself remains at risk of exposure. The violence marks a brutal turn in the crew's dynamics.

Suzanne discovers the origin of the money used to buy a bracelet and demands a larger share. She and Bob drive to Paris to locate Bob and Roger, but they fail to find them. Suzanne persuades Jean to back out and to pass information to Ledru anonymously.

Believing the plan remains secret, Ledru leads a convoy of armed police toward the Deauville casino to intercept the raid. The pursuit adds pressure as timing becomes critical for the crew. The safe's guard and the team brace for confrontation.

Bob enters the casino to check on the operation, and the team plans to burst in at 5:00 a.m. He cannot resist a winning streak at roulette and chemin de fer, which makes him lose track of time. The tension between timing and luck drives the narrative forward.

As the raid unfolds, police flood the casino and a shootout erupts. Paolo is shot during the chaos, and Bob confronts the consequences of his choices as the plan collapses around him. The crew's nerves and loyalties fracture under pressure.

Bob and Roger are handcuffed and placed into Ledru's car, with the winnings loaded into the trunk. Ledru estimates that Bob will likely spend a short period in prison, while Roger believes he will be acquitted with a good lawyer. The ending hints at the price of ambition.

The film closes with Bob reflecting on the costs of his gambles, punctuated by a rueful quip about damages and lawsuits. The noir mood lingers as the cycle of risk and reward concludes in uncertain justice. The final moment ties back to the opening's heaven-and-hell motif.