''Le baron de l'écluse'', titled in English ''The Baron of the Locks'', is a 1960 French drama film directed by

Jean Delannoy Jean Delannoy (12 January 1908 – 18 June 2008) was a French actor, film editor, screenwriter and film director. Biography Although Delannoy was born in a Paris suburb, his family was from Haute-Normandie in the north of France. He was a P ...

. Based on a novel of the same name by

Georges Simenon Georges Joseph Christian Simenon (; 13 February 1903 – 4 September 1989) was a Belgian writer. He published nearly 500 novels and numerous short works, and was the creator of the fictional detective Jules Maigret. Early life and education ...

, the screenplay is by Maurice Druon with dialogue by Michel Audiard. It stars Jean Gabin as a gambler who elopes with a former mistress, played by

Micheline Presle Micheline Presle (; born Micheline Nicole Julia Émilienne Chassagne; 22 August 1922) is a French actress. She was sometimes billed as Micheline Prelle. Starting in 1939, she starred in over 50 French and English language films that were made in H ...

, but runs out of money. She departs with a champagne maker (

Jean Desailly Jean Desailly (24 August 1920 – 11 June 2008) was a French actor. He was a member of the Comédie-Française from 1942 to 1946, and later participated in about 90 movies. Life and career Desailly studied at the École nationale supérieure des ...

) and he ponders settling down with an inn owner (

Blanchette Brunoy Blanchette Brunoy (5 October 1915 – 3 April 2005) was a French actress. She was born Blanche Bilhaud in Paris as the daughter of a physician, and died in Manosque, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence of old age. Career Blanchette Brunoy appeared in over 9 ...

), until one day fresh funds arrive.

Plot

A baron by birth and former fighter ace, Jérôme exists as a gambler, hanging around casinos and racetracks. At Deauville, he strikes lucky by taking not only a million off a Middle Eastern billionaire at baccarat but also lifting his mistress Perle, a brittle old flame. Going further, in a private game he wins eleven million from a marquis who is trying to sell his motor yacht. Jérôme takes the yacht, worth nine million, with a promise that the remaining two million will be sent to a post office he nominates. The vessel is lying at Rotterdam, so Jérôme heads there with Perle and the two then set course by inland waterways for Monte Carlo, his next field of operations. At a lock in Champagne, the fuel runs out and Jérôme has no ready money left. They have no food either, so eventually Perle walks in desperation all the way to a smart restaurant, where she is picked up by Maurice, heir to a famous winemaking firm. Jérôme accepts that in the circumstances she is entitled to change partners, so she and her cases disappear in Maurice's car. At an isolated little inn near the lock, Jérôme has been telephoning repeatedly to get his two million and has caught the eye of the owner, a sweet widow called Maria. She gives him credit, cooks him meals and her gentle charm makes him think of a peaceful rural life. Until the day his two million comes through to the village post office when, after filling up with fuel, he points his craft south for the Mediterranean and fresh adventures.

Cast

* Jean Gabin : Baron Jérôme Napoléon Anthoine *

: Perle Germain-Joubert *

: Maurice Montbernon *

: Maria Vilandier, the innkeeper *

Jacques Castelot Jacques Castelot (born Jacques Marie Paul Éloi Storms) (11 July 1914 – 25 August 1989) was a French film actor. He appeared in more than 80 films between 1938 and 1982. His brother was the writer André Castelot and their father was the S ...

: Marquis de Villamayor *

Jean Constantin Jean Constantin (; born Constantin Cornel Jean; 21 August 1927 – 26 May 2010) was a well-known Romanian comedian of Greek ethnicity. Constantin was born in Techirghiol, and died in Constanța. Filmography *' (2010) .... Agârbiceanu *''Vin ...

: Prince Héliakim Saddokan

External links

* 1960 films 1960s French-language films Films directed by Jean Delannoy French comedy films Films based on Belgian novels Films based on works by Georges Simenon Films with screenplays by Michel Audiard 1960 comedy films 1960s French films {{1960s-France-film-stub