''The Cop'' (french: Un condé, it, L'uomo venuto da Chicago) is a 1970 French-Italian

crime film Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine ...

directed by

Yves Boisset Yves may refer to: * Yves, Charente-Maritime, a commune of the Charente-Maritime department in France * Yves (given name), including a list of people with the name * ''Yves'' (single album), a single album by Loona * ''Yves'' (film), a 2019 Fren ...

that stars

Michel Bouquet Michel Bouquet (6 November 1925 – 13 April 2022) was a French stage and film actor. He appeared in more than 100 films from 1947 to 2020. He won the Best Actor European Film Award for '' Toto the Hero'' in 1991 and two Best Actor Césars fo ...

and

Françoise Fabian Michèle Cortes (born 10 May 1933), known professionally as Françoise Fabian (), is a French film actress. She has appeared in more than 100 films since 1956. In 1971, Fabian signed the Manifesto of the 343 The Manifesto of the 343 (), was a F ...

. With considerable moral ambiguity, it tells the story of a committed policeman in a crooked force who concludes that the only way to avenge the murder of a colleague by criminals is to use their own weapons of beatings and shootings. Its portrayal of police corruption and violence led to demands from French government ministers for extensive cuts or a total ban and in the end the French release had a few cuts.

Plot

Inspector Favenin, after being posted away for indiscipline, returns to duty and links up with his old friend Barnero. The two start investigating the murder of Dassa, a bar owner who refused to let his premises be used for distributing the drugs of Tavernier, the local crime lord who is protected by police and politicians. When Dassa's sister arrives to settle his affairs, the goons who murdered her brother beat her up and wreck the bar. Rover, an old friend of Dassa, hides the girl on his stud farm and decides to get revenge. He enlists Villetti, a fellow ex-mercenary, to murder Tavernier as he leaves his private gambling club. An alibi is secured from a third colleague, Aulnay, who will swear that the two were playing cards with him and his wife. Rover and Villetti succeed in murdering Tavernier but, as they escape along the roof, encounter Favenin and Barnero. The warning shots of the two policemen are returned and Barnero is killed. When Favenin's demand to lead the hunt for the killer in his own way is accepted, he first tracks down the two goons who were also in the club. After shooting one for failure to co-operate, he gets the name of Villetti from the other. Tracking down Villetti, he explains to him that the only sure way to get revenge will be to shoot him. Villetti agrees, but points out before the trigger is pulled that this makes Favenin no better than a criminal. Meanwhile the police have tracked down and arrested Rover, who gives nothing away despite being beaten. Favenin tracks down Aulnay, who persists in the false alibi despite a beating. After this trail of beatings and deaths, Favenin is again suspended and, sending his wife away to safety, stays alone in his riverside home. Aulnay tracks him down and informs both Rover, who is in jail pending trial, and Dassa's sister. The girl goes to confront Favenin, but both are unaware that Rover has escaped. Guessing where he will be heading, a srong force of police surround Favenin's house. When the armed Rover confronts Favenin, police fire brings him down. Favenin hands over a written report of his investigations, which ends with his resignation.

Cast

as L'inspecteur Favenin *

as Hélène Dassa *

Gianni Garko Gianni Garko (born Giovanni Garcovich; 15 July 1935), often billed as John Garko and occasionally Gary Hudson, is an Italian actor who found fame as a leading man in 1960s Spaghetti Westerns. He is perhaps best known for his lead role as Sartana, ...

as Dan Rover (as John Garko) *

Michel Constantin Michel Constantin (born Constantin Hokhloff, 13 July 1924 – 29 August 2003) was a French film actor. Biography Born to a Russian father and a Polish mother in Billancourt (near Paris), Constantin made his first film appearance in 1956. Hi ...

as Viletti *

Rufus Rufus is a masculine given name, a surname, an Ancient Roman cognomen and a nickname (from Latin ''rufus'', "red"). Notable people with the name include: Given name Politicians * Rufus Ada George (born 1940), Nigerian politician * Rufus Al ...

as Raymond Aulnay * Anne Carrère as Christine *

Théo Sarapo Theophanis Lamboukas (Greek: Θεοφάνης Λαμπουκάς, 26 January 1936 – 28 August 1970), professionally known as Théo Sarapo, was a French singer and actor, and the second husband of the French singer Édith Piaf. Formerly a ha ...

as Lupo *

Henri Garcin Henri Garcin (born Anton Albers; 11 April 1928 – 13 June 2022) was a Belgian film actor. He appeared in more than 100 films from 1956 to 2022. Selected filmography * ''Mademoiselle and Her Gang'' (1957) * '' Mata Hari, Agent H21'' (1964) * ' ...

as Georges Duval, dit 'Georgy Beausourire' * Pierre Massimi as Robert Dassa *

Bernard Fresson Bernard Fresson (27 May 1931 – 20 October 2002) was a French actor who primarily worked in film. Born in Reims, France, to a French baker, Fresson attended the Lycée privé Sainte-Geneviève, majoring in law. He studied in Tania Balachova's ...

as L'inspecteur Barnero *

Adolfo Celi Adolfo Celi (; 27 July 1922 – 19 February 1986) was an Italian film actor and director. Born in Curcuraci, Messina, Sicily, Celi appeared in nearly 100 films, specialising in international villains. Although a prominent actor in Italian ...

as Le commissaire principal / Chief of police *

Jean-Claude Bercq Jean-Claude is a French masculine given name. Notable people with the name include: * Jean-Claude Ades, an Italian electronic music producer * Jean-Claude Alibert (died 2020), a French racing driver * Jean-Claude Amiot (born 1939), a French compose ...

as Germain (as Jean-Claude Berck) *

Serge Nubret Serge Nubret (6 October 193819 April 2011) was a French professional bodybuilder, actor and self published author. He won numerous bodybuilding competitions, including 1976 NABBA Mr. Universe (1976). Nubret was nicknamed "The Black Panther." Earl ...

as Le Noir

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cop, The 1970 films 1970 crime films French crime films 1970s Italian-language films French films about revenge Films directed by Yves Boisset 1970s French-language films 1970s French films