Le Doulos

Le Doulos

Year: 1962

Runtime: 108 mins

Language: French

Director: Jean-Pierre Melville

DramaThrillerCrimeCrime drugs and gangstersThrillers and murder mysteries

A raw, shocking, savage tale of betrayal and deception. Enigmatic gangster Silien may have informed on Faugel, who, freshly out of prison, is already drawn into a seemingly straightforward heist. As the brutal, twisting, multilayered police drama unfolds, loyalties are tested and trust becomes a scarce commodity.

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Timeline & Setting – Le Doulos (1962)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Le Doulos (1962). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Neuilly-sur-Seine, Thérèse's apartment, Nuttheccio's club, Jean's apartment, Ponthierry

Le Doulos unfolds across the Paris region, centering on a Neuilly-sur-Seine home robbery and the criminal underworld surrounding Nuttheccio. Key locations include Thérèse's apartment, Nuttheccio's club, and Jean's apartment, with the action moving to Silien's presumed home in Ponthierry. The city and its suburbs serve as a tense backdrop for deceit, loyalty tests, and escalating violence.

🗺️ Urban crime 🏙️ Paris region

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:20

Main Characters – Le Doulos (1962)

Meet the key characters of Le Doulos (1962), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Maurice Faugel (Serge Reggiani)

Recently released from prison after six years, Maurice plans a new jewel heist with two accomplices. He is ambitious, volatile, and quick to violence, especially under police pressure. His scheme unravels through betrayal, a botched robbery, and a fatal confrontation that reveals the fragility of loyalties in the criminal underworld.

🗡️ Crime 🤝 Betrayal

Silien (Jean-Paul Belmondo)

A cool, enigmatic fixer who navigates both criminals and the police. He manipulates events to protect Maurice while pursuing his own layered agenda. His intricate plotting leads to a dramatic finale in which he is killed, highlighting his complex mix of loyalty and ruthlessness.

🧭 Strategy 🤝 Loyalty

Thérèse (Monique Hennessy)

Maurice's girlfriend who becomes entangled with Silien and the police informant network. Silien beats and torments her to extract information, and her fate is sealed when her involvement with the case leads to her death, her body found in a wrecked car connected to the surrounding intrigue.

💔 Love 🕵️‍♂️ Betrayal

Fabienne (Fabienne Dali)

Nuttheccio's former girlfriend who is drawn into Silien's schemes. She agrees to testify against Nuttheccio and Armand, ultimately becoming a key player in the plan to frame the other criminals. Her actions pivot the balance of power within the underworld.

🎭 Drama 💬 Testimony

Nuttheccio (Michel Piccoli)

Gang boss amid the web of crime who becomes a target of Silien's strategic moves. His club serves as a backdrop for the illicit loot and power struggles. His murder, staged to misdirect the police, is a turning point in the investigation.

🗡️ Crime 💼 Power

Jean (Philippe March)

Maurice's ally who helps deliver equipment for the Neuilly robbery. He represents a more straightforward criminal connection in Maurice's scheme, acting as a practical participant in the plan.

🤝 Alliance 🕵️‍♂️ Complicity

Armand (Jacques De Leon)

Nuttheccio's associate who becomes a victim of Silien's framing scheme. His involvement in the botched robbery cements the film's themes of deceit and retaliation within the underworld.

🗡️ Crime 🤝 Alliance

Inspector Salignari (Daniel Crohem)

The police inspector who pursues the case with relentless intensity. His role underscores the cat-and-mouse dynamic between criminals and law enforcement, and the way informants complicate pursuit and accountability.

🕵️‍♂️ Police ⚖️ Justice

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:20

Major Themes – Le Doulos (1962)

Explore the central themes of Le Doulos (1962), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗝️ Betrayal

Betrayal drives the plot as loyalties shift between Maurice, Silien, and their associates. Characters manipulate each other to achieve personal gain, often at the expense of trust. The film reveals how information can be weaponized to alter outcomes and save or doom those involved.

⚖️ Justice

The narrative questions what 'justice' means when both criminals and police operate in a murky moral gray area. Silien’s maneuvers to influence outcomes blur the line between protector and informer. The pursuit of truth collides with self-preservation and procedural deceit.

💀 Fate

Fate threads through the destinies of Maurice, Silien, and their rivals as plans spiral out of control. The pursuit of wealth and power culminates in a cascade of killings, misunderstandings, and fatal confrontations. The final moments underscore how tightly woven destinies can end in tragedy.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:20

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Le Doulos Summary

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Le Doulos Summary

Le Doulos Timeline

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Le Doulos Timeline

More About Le Doulos

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