Casque d’Or

In the aftermath of a bank robbery, Marie is introduced to Georges Manda by his old friend Raymond at a riverside tavern in Joinville. They feel an instant attraction and share a charged dance that draws Marie away from her unhappy arrangement with Roland. Roland's jealousy flares as he tries to bully Manda, but Manda knocks him out with a single punch.

That same night, Manda and Roland duel in a back area behind the bar. Leca throws a knife into the ground between them, and Manda wrests control of it to fatally stab Roland. Impressed by Manda's fighting prowess, Leca offers him a place in the gang, which Manda immediately declines.

Anatole, a waiter at L'Ange Gabriel, suspects trouble and alerts the police. The officers arrive as the gang members strand themselves, and Roland's body is discovered. The raid exposes the gang's activities and forces everyone to scatter.

Shortly after, Anatole is killed on Leca's orders for having alerted the police. The death is arranged to look like an accident, and Leca even has the gang contribute to Anatole's funeral to keep up appearances.

Manda quits his job and heads toward Joinville after receiving a note from Marie. They settle on a small farm there and live an idyllic life for a time, far from the gang's reach. Yet the shadow of Leca's scheming lingers in the background.

Leca exploits his political connections, using a crooked inspector to frame Raymond for Roland's murder. He visits Marie at their Joinville retreat and hints that Manda will be safe only if she cooperates. Marie succumbs to his advances, helping to narrow the path for Manda's fate.

Manda signs a confession, but Raymond remains imprisoned. The inspector makes clear that Manda is charged as an accessory, and Raymond notices Leca's duplicity in a note. He passes the revelation to Manda while they are being transported toward La Santé Prison.

Marie hires a coach to orchestrate an escape, hoping to free Manda from custody. Raymond is shot during the escape attempt, and Manda leaves him at L'Ange Gabriel to die among friends. He then sets out to find Leca, ultimately uncovering Marie's slippers as a clue to his whereabouts.

Manda tracks Leca to the street and confronts him near a police station. He grabs a pistol and shoots Leca in a courtyard in front of stunned officers. After the confrontation, Manda drops the gun and surrenders to the police.

Paul takes Marie to a hotel room overlooking the site of Manda's execution. At dawn, Manda is led to the guillotine and beheaded. Marie drops her head in grief as the scene lingers on the memory of their love.

The film closes with a memory of Marie and Manda dancing together in the Joinville tavern, alone on the dance floor. The image functions as a bittersweet reminder of their doomed romance and what could have been. The memory lingers as the screen fades to black.