The French Detective (1975): Cast & Plot
The French Detective is a 1975 drama thriller directed by Pierre Granier-Deferre, starring Michel Beaune as Inspector Dupuy, Gérard Hérold and Gérard Dessalles. It runs 1 hour 27 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 27m (87 min)
- Director
- Pierre Granier-Deferre
- Original language
-
French - Studio
- Mondex Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The French Detective About?
The premise of The French Detective without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Thugs murder a volunteer and a police officer, prompting Chief Inspector Verjeat to blame the councilman who ordered them. His probe of Councilman Lardatte brings a warning and a pending transfer. After humiliating Lardatte in a hostage crisis, Verjeat and detective Lefévre devise a scheme buying time before reassignment, testing his honor and duty.
The French Detective Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- brothel
- prostitute
- smashed head
- manslaughter
- shootout in a hospital
- quitting smoking
- informant
- man on the run
- character appears in newspaper
- scene during end credits
- murder of a police officer
- cigarette smoking
+38 more Show fewer
- evil politician
- bill poster
- french police
- french criminal
- corruption
- coworker coworker relationship
- political meeting
- driving the wrong way on a freeway
- politics
- politician
- corrupt politician
- two word title
- colleague colleague relationship
- literature on screen
- french literature on screen
- european literature on screen
- crime literature on screen
- french crime literature on screen
- european crime literature on screen
- 20th century literature on screen
- 1970s literature on screen
- detective
- police detective
- investigator
- police investigator
- investigation
- activism
- activist
- political activist
- beating
- beaten to death
- murder
- murder of a policeman
- violence
- policeman
- policeman as protagonist
- poster
- doctor
The French Detective Cast & Characters
Michel Beaune leads the cast as Inspector Dupuy, with Gérard Hérold as Inspector Moitrié and Gérard Dessalles as Inspector Ransac. Directed by Pierre Granier-Deferre; 35 actors are credited in all.
- Director Pierre Granier-Deferre
- Michel Beaune as Inspector Dupuy
- Gérard Hérold as Inspector Moitrié
- Gérard Dessalles as Inspector Ransac
- Jacques Serres as Inspector Martin
Also Starring in The French Detective
· 31 more- Victor Lanoux Pierre Lardatte
- Lino Ventura Commissioner Verjeat
- Pierre Tornade Commissioner Pignol
- Patrick Dewaere Inspector Lefèvre
- Valérie Mairesse Girl with the cockade
- Pierre Londiche Jeanvier, informer with the dog
- Jacques Rispal Mr. Mercier, father of the young man killed
- Michel Peyrelon Roger Portor, brother of Antoine
- Christiane Tissot Marie Portor
- Dominique Zardi Man injured in the leg
- Henri Attal Luigi
- Claude Rich Judge Delmesse
- Julien Guiomar General controller Ledoux
- Françoise Brion Marthe Rigaux, boss of the brothel
- Lionel Vitrant Gas station attendant
- Henri Lambert Norbert (uncredited)
Show all 35 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Sylvain Lévignac False injured (uncredited)
- Raoul Curet President
- Jean-Yves Gautier Letellier
- Eric Vasberg Lopez
- Claude Brosset Antoine Portor, Lardatte's henchman
- Jean Turlier Moissat
- Éric Legrand Jean Mercier
- Christine Laurent Christine
- Ève Francis Old lady
- Sylvie Matton Nurse
- Marie-Pierre de Gérando Commander of the gendarmerie
- Charles Dalin Sergio
- Patrick Feigelson Louis
- Guy Verda
- André Malfuson Estève
More from Pierre Granier-Deferre
More films directed by Pierre Granier-Deferre: The Austrian, Widow’s Walk, Private Tuition and L’Homme aux yeux d’argent.
The French Detective Plot Summary
What happens in The French Detective from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Two Rouen-based detectives, Commissioner Verjeat Lino Ventura and Inspector Lefèvre Patrick Dewaere, form an unlikely team. Verjeat is a weathered, street-smart veteran, while Lefèvre is a young, sharp-edged cynic who questions every rule. Their initial friction—snappy quips and mismatched styles—gradually softens into a wary partnership as they tackle a case that blends crime with political intrigue.
Full summary
The whole story of The French Detective, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The French Detective?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In which French city are Detectives Verjeat and Lefèvre based?
The French Detective Also Known As
23 alternative titles, including “So Long Copper” and “Adeus”.
- Also known as
-
- So Long Copper
- Adeus
- Bruto
- Ungleiches Duell
- O Skliros Timoros tou Ypokosmou
- Powodzenia, stary
- Inspector!
- Adieu Bulle
- Zbogom žaco
- Ο Σκληρός Τιμωρός του Υποκόσμου
- Adieu
- Bulle
+11 more Show fewer
- Dai sbirro
- El incorruptible
- Прощай, полицейский
- Agyő, haver!
- Сбогом, ченге
- Zbohom kura
- 法国侦探
- Nelítostný souboj
- 형사 반장
- 베르자, მშვიდობით პოლიციელი
- Powodzenia, stary!
Seen The French Detective?
Movies Like The French Detective
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Detective, The Cop and Cop au Vin.
The French Detective FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of The French Detective, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The French Detective?
The French Detective runs 1 hour 27 minutes (87 minutes).
When was The French Detective released?
The French Detective was released on December 10, 1975.
Who directed The French Detective?
The French Detective was directed by Pierre Granier-Deferre.
More films by Pierre Granier-Deferre Who is in the cast of The French Detective?
The French Detective stars Michel Beaune as Inspector Dupuy, Gérard Hérold as Inspector Moitrié and Gérard Dessalles as Inspector Ransac, among 35 credited actors.
Does The French Detective have a post-credit scene?
No. The French Detective has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is The French Detective in?
The original language of The French Detective is French.
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