Le Doulos

Maurice Faugel is released from prison after six years. He reunites with Gilbert, who is appraising jewels from a recent heist, and they discuss a robbery plan. In a violent turn, Maurice uses Gilbert’s own gun to kill him and steals the jewels and a large sum of money.

Following Gilbert’s murder, Maurice buries the jewels, money, and the gun next to a lamppost. He tries to keep the loot hidden, setting up a later retrieval. The act triggers the police investigation and the danger surrounding the stolen items.

Maurice spends the evening at his girlfriend Thérèse's apartment. He contemplates the consequences of the crime while maintaining his plans for the upcoming robbery. The quiet night contrasts with the growing pressure from both police and rivals.

Silien arrives the next day with Maurice's friend Jean to deliver equipment for the Neuilly robbery. The delivery cements Silien’s involvement in the plan and keeps the crew prepared for the crime that evening. The atmosphere is tense as preparations continue.

Silien uses a payphone to call Inspector Salignari, hinting at his connections and manipulating the flow of information. The call foreshadows that the police are closing in on the robbery. Silien’s role becomes increasingly ambiguous to Maurice.

That evening, Maurice and Rémy head to a home in affluent Neuilly to carry out the burglary. The stakes are high as they attempt the heist amid heightened police attention. The plan depends on perfect timing and silence.

Silien arrives at Thérèse's apartment and demands the address of the Neuilly robbery. He beats Thérèse and ties her to a wall radiator to extract information. Her assault underscores the brutal lengths people go to control information.

Police arrive at the Neuilly burglary. Inspector Salignari corners Maurice and Rémy, fatally shooting Rémy. Maurice returns fire, and a broader gunfight leaves Salignari dead and Maurice wounded before he escapes into the night.

Maurice regains consciousness in Jean's apartment, unsure who brought him there. He resolves to locate Silien, who he believes informed the police. He entrusts Anita with a diagram showing where the loot was buried, asking her to give it to Jean if something happens to him.

The police press Silien as the possible informant, but Silien denies involvement. He mentions a hope to move to a house in Ponthierry. Meanwhile, the car that rescued Maurice is found wrecked, with Thérèse’s body inside, linking the tragedy to the broader case.

The police threaten Silien with a drug case unless he helps locate Maurice. Silien cooperates and Maurice is found. Maurice maintains that Gilbert’s murder happened while he was elsewhere, hoping to shield himself further.

Silien retrieves the buried jewels, money, and gun and visits Nuttheccio's club. He persuades Fabienne to testify against Nuttheccio and Armand for Gilbert's murder. Silien then kills Nuttheccio and Armand, staging their deaths to look like a joint murder-suicide tied to the original crime.

Maurice is released from prison and learns that Silien was not the informant; Silien and Jean explain that Silien orchestrated maneuvers to secure his release. Silien reveals he had identified Thérèse as Salignari’s informant, explaining the earlier constraints and plan to avert disaster.

Maurice arrives at Silien's home in Ponthierry, but Kern mistakes him for Silien and shoots him. Silien arrives moments later; Maurice, in his dying breath, warns of someone hidden behind a dressing screen. Silien shoots Kern, who dies, and then Silien himself is mortally wounded. He staggers to a phone, tells Fabienne he will not see her, adjusts his hat, and dies.