

A prosecutor celebrates his third death sentence—then learns he just killed the wrong guy.
Prosecutor Maillard can rejoice: he has just obtained the death sentence of an accused accused of murder. It is the third head he gets at the assizes. There followed an evening of rejoicing with his wife and friends, including the prosecutor Bertolier. The latter's wife is Maillard's mistress. The lovers left alone, the condemned man, Valorin, burst into the room. He managed to escape during his transfer to the remand center. Valorin immediately recognized Bertolier's wife. And for good reason: at the time of the crime, they were together in a brothel. Stunned by the miscarriage of justice he has just committed, Maillard then tries to rehabilitate Vallorin while trying to avoid a scandal in the judiciary. He then calls Bertolier to the rescue. Valorin is opportunely killed "accidentally" and ... everything will go back to "order".
Acting
Guy Tréjan's unraveling arrogance is deliciously painful.
Writing
Marcel Aymé's razor dialogue cuts through judicial pomp.

Director
Raymond Rouleau
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Adapted from Marcel Aymé's 1952 play, which scandalized Paris with its unflattering portrait of the magistrature.
The film's cynicism about French institutions landed differently post-1968; what read as satire now feels like documentary.