The French Detective
When political thugs murder an opponent's volunteer and also kill a cop, chief inspector Verjeat believes the politician who hired them is as guilty as the murderous goon. Verjeat's pursuit of the councilman, Lardatte, gets him a warning from his superiors. When he embarrasses Lardatte while disarming a hostage (the dead volunteer's father), Verjeat is told he's being transferred within a week. He speeds up his hunt for the goon and, with Lefévre, one of his young detectives, he engineers a complicated scheme to buy more time before the transfer. How should Verjeat play out his values of honor and duty?
Lino Ventura
Commissioner Verjeat
Patrick Dewaere
Inspector Lefèvre
Victor Lanoux
Pierre Lardatte
Julien Guiomar
General controller Ledoux
Pierre Tornade
Commissioner Pignol
Françoise Brion
Marthe Rigaux, boss of the brothel
Claude Rich
Judge Delmesse
Michel Peyrelon
Roger Portor, brother of Antoine
Claude Brosset
Antoine Portor, Lardatte's henchman
Gérard Hérold
Inspector Moitrié
Gérard Dessalles
Inspector Ransac
Jacques Rispal
Mr. Mercier, father of the young man killed
Patrick Feigelson
Louis
Jean-Yves Gautier
Letellier
Pierre Londiche
Jeanvier, informer with the dog
Jacques Serres
Inspector Martin
Christiane Tissot
Marie Portor
Ève Francis
Old lady
André Malfuson
Estève
Michel Beaune
Inspector Dupuy
Charles Dalin
Sergio
Christine Laurent
Christine
Henri Attal
Luigi
Dominique Zardi
Man injured in the leg
Lionel Vitrant
Gas station attendant
Sylvie Matton
Nurse
Eric Vasberg
Lopez
Éric Legrand
Jean Mercier
Valérie Mairesse
Girl with the cockade
Marie-Pierre de Gérando
Commander of the gendarmerie
Raoul Curet
President
Jean Turlier
Moissat
Guy Verda
Henri Lambert
Norbert (uncredited)
Sylvain Lévignac
False injured (uncredited)