Touchez Pas au Grisbi (1954) on Netflix
Max, an aging Parisian gangster, has eight stolen gold bars hidden away for his retirement. His partner Riton's young girlfriend Josy has taken up with Angelo, a rival.
- Netflix1.5/5
- IMDb7.6/109,774 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes100%
Trailer
Plot summary
At Madame Bouche's restaurant, the middle-aged gangster Max dines with his longtime partner Riton, who brings Josy, a burlesque dancer many years younger, and her act partner Lola. Max's protégé Marco, down on his luck, appears, and Max gets him work as a pusher with Angelo, a young criminal with his own gang. After the club show Max sees Josy with Angelo and keeps it from Riton. Riding home he is followed by an ambulance; he turns on its two hoodlums and sends them off, then warns Riton not to go out with Angelo, who has invited him at two in the morning. At his hideout Max shows Riton the eight gold bars hidden in a car in the garage, and hears that Riton told Josy about the loot. Max says he intends to retire on it.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Touchez Pas au Grisbi (1954)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- French actor Daniel Gélin was first offered the role of Max, but turned it down, seeing himself as too young for the part.
- The film marked the screen debut of Lino Ventura, who went on to star in five pictures with Gabin and become a close personal friend of his.
- While Becker was casting Riton, Gabin introduced him to René Dary, and Gabin also proposed his ex-wife Gaby Basset as the wife of Pierrot.
- To stop Becker using a Mezz Mezzrow song for the juke-box theme, Wiener worked overnight and settled on a harmonica as the main instrument; his song 'The Touch/Le Grisbi' became the biggest earner of his career and was covered by performers including Harry James and Larry Adler.
- The screenwriters toned down the violence, racism and general sordid nature of the original Simonin novel for the film.
- Touchez pas au grisbi revived Gabin's career and led the actor to successfully playing ever older roles as he aged.
