Jean Gabin

In Jury of One, French filmmaker Andre Cayatte once more probes into the intricacies of the Gallic justice system. Sophia Loren plays the widow of a man reputed to be a gangster. When Loren's son Michel Albertini is accused of murder, his father's reputation practically assures a guilty verdict. Desperately, Loren kidnaps Gisel Casadessus, the wife of prosecuting judge Jean Gabin. In order to save Gisel's life, Gabin acquits Albertini, only to discover that his wife, a diabetic, has died after refusing to take insulin. It is up to the conscience-stricken Loren to mete out final justice against herself. Jury of One was also distributed to English-speaking countries under the title The Verdict. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In 1950s France, an old peasant patriarch was tried for the murder of a family of British campers. At the time, the case was a cause célèbre all over France. This movie made the old case famous all over again. At the time of his capture, Dominici (Jean Gabin) was adamant that he committed the crime. During the trial, however, he retracted his confession and gave evidence that pointed to his two sons and another person. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

This is one of the few films directed by the well-known French dialogue writer Michel Audiard who was best known for his comic wit. This film is distinctive, however, for its sweetness. Victor (Jean Gabin) an old man, is a grocer and an obnoxious boss. He has always told his family tales of sea travel and sailing, even though they believe he never was at sea. When his nephew wins a prize for building a model boat, and gets orders to build the boat he's modelled, uncle Victor knows enough to help supervise the construction, much to the relief of his employees. The nephew's boss stops funding the boat, but Victor takes up the slack and it is finally built. It does no one any good in the nephew's backyard, and after a huge struggle the family gets it into the Seine River, where one thing after another goes wrong. The nephew's son burns the troublesome boat, and Victor goes back to his grocery to one again harass his workers properly. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

A grandfather (Jean Gabin) kills a gangster who comes looking for his grandson at the family farm. The boy was involved in hiding heroin for the mob, but the grandfather finds the dope before the gang can retrieve it. He buries the dead goon in the back yard and drives his car into the stream. Soon other members of the gang come to the farm to search for the hidden drugs. The heroic grandfather systematically eliminates the criminals as he acts as judge, jury and executioner in his one man war on drugs and organized crime. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

This violent crime drama finds police chief Joss (Jean Gabin) on the trail of a murderous mob boss. When the mob talks Joss' friend into turning to a life of crime, the maniacal mastermind kills the friend, along with the other robbery participants. Joss swears revenge and beats the crooks to the punch by robbing their next intended target. He leaks word to the mob where he can be found and uses a human decoy in an attempt to gun down the vicious murderer and clear his own name. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

This is an updated version of the Alexander Dumas classic. Edmond Dantes (Paul Barge) is framed and imprisoned for collaboration with the enemy during World War II. When he escapes from jail he travels to South America where rumors of his death are soon taken to be fact. He discovers a treasure and plots his return to seek revenge against those who had falsely accused him of being a traitor. Cars replace horses for the chase scenes in this modernized version of Monte-Cristo as Edmond fights to regain his name, his property, and the woman who was taken from him years earlier. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

In this crime drama, two middle-aged gangsters attempt to run an international smuggling ring and begin looking for new people to sneak their illicit gold across Europe. They take on a jobless journalist to assist, not realizing he is really a US government agent who is looking to see if the two crime lords are affiliated with an American crime boss who runs illegal guns to Cuba. The agent discovers that the two are not affiliated with the Mafia. The American Mafioso wants them to be though and eventually sabotages their operation and forces them to join. During a meeting between the two sides, the smuggler pretends to willingly acquiesce to the American. He also manages to surreptitiously plant a bomb that explodes and kills everyone but him. The US agent is impressed and compliments the wily old smuggler. The smuggler shrugs him off. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Martin (Jean Gabin) is a venerable gardener who passes counterfeit currency to make ends meet in this situation comedy. When a tax bill puts him further in debt, his nephew convinces him to pass bigger bills to pay off the taxes and live the good life. Soon the nephew and his girlfriend buy a villa on the Riviera and some fancy cars. Martin wants out of the deal but agrees to pull off one more caper before retiring. He meets a wealthy man who takes a liking to him and helps the man win a fortune while gambling at the casino. He brings the money to his nephew who does not realize the currency is real, and when police show up looking for an escaped lion, the nephew and his girl burn what they believe are the bogus bills to avoid being arrested. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Left a young widower, banker Monsieur (Jean Gabin) discovers that his late wife was having an affair before her death. About to end his life after the news, he is rescued from his misery by a prostitute who was once his maid. Deciding to make a change in his life, he abandons his old one and becomes a valet, passing the girl off as his daughter. Now working for a wealthy man, Monsieur finds that his employer's lonely wife is tempted to try out another's affection. Monsieur saves the day by dissuading the wife, falling in love with the prostitute and deciding to reclaim his prior fortune. This French comedy is adapted by Claude Sautet and Pascal Jardin from a play by Claude Gevel. Sautet would go on to direct some impressive features, including the more recent Un Coeur En Himer/Heart in Winter (1992) and Nelly et M. Arnaud/Nelly and Mr. Arnaud (1995) starring the talented Emmanuelle Beart. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide

Jean Gabin plays Charles, an aging gangster, newly released from prison. In fine Bogart tradition, the unrepentant Charles immediately sets to work planning a major casino heist in Cannes. His go-between for this endeavor is a chorus girl, whom Charles's associate Francis (Alain Delon) beds in order to win her confidence. This rapidly-paced suspenser was based on a novel by John Trinian. When first distributed in the US, the film travelled under the title Any Number Can Win. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Three screenwriters pooled their talents for the French racetrack drama Duke of the Derby. Jean Gabin plays a handicapper who's been living high on the hog (or horse) for years. While playing the ponies at Britain's Epson Downs, Gabin finally outsmarts himself. The rest of the story concerns his feverish efforts to recoup his former glory. Originally Le Gentleman D'Epsom, the film is also known as Grandes Seigneurs. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A police inspector on the trail of the murderer of a nightclub owner falls for the dead man's drug-addicted mistress. He tries to get her to talk, but the commissioner suspects her and wants the case solved, so he orders her arrested. She disappears, and the inspector is led to the home of the real killer. ~ Steve Huey, All Movie Guide