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36 Quai des Orfèvres - Daniel Auteuil, Gerard Depardieu, André Dussollier, Olivier Marchal

Threat advisory: High - High risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

A violent gang has been operating in Paris with complete disregard for the law. Head of the Judicial Police, Robert Mancini (André Dussollier), lays down a challenge to the two men who work directly beneath him - the head of the Search and Action Squad, Léo Vrinks (Daniel Auteuil) and the head of the Anti-Crime Unit, Denis Klein (Gérard Depardieu): whichever man apprehends the gang will replace Mancini as the head of the Criminal Investigations Department.

Based on a true story.

Theatrical propaganda posters

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

Film police French crime corruption France detective armed robbery gang Paris politics

Persons of interest

Daniel Auteuil .... Léo Vrinks
Gérard Depardieu .... Denis Klein
André Dussollier .... Robert Mancini
Roschdy Zem .... Hugo Silien
Valeria Golino .... Camille Vrinks
Daniel Duval .... Eddy Valence
Francis Renaud .... Titi Brasseur
Catherine Marchal .... Ève Verhagen
Guy Lecluyse .... Groluc
Alain Figlarz .... Francis Horn
Vincent Moscato .... Jenner
Anne Consigny .... Hélène Klein
Stéphane Metzger .... Smao
Solène Biasch .... Lola Vrinks aged 11
Aurore Auteuil .... Lola Vrinks aged 17
Eric Defosse .... Rolf Winterstein
Ivan Franek .... Bruno Winterstein
Laurent Olmédo .... Tony Vargas
Christophe Rouzaud .... Staneck
Dominique Loiseau .... Screenwriter
Frank Mancuso .... Screenwriter
Julien Rappeneau .... Screenwriter
Olivier Marchal .... Screenwriter
Olivier Marchal .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

36 Quai des Orfèvres official movie site
36 Quai des Orfèvres film production notes
36 Quai des Orfèvres QuickTime movie trailers
Awards and film festivals:

César Awards 2005: Nominated: Best Actor (Daniel Auteuil), Best Director (Olivier Marchal), Best Editing (Hachdé), Best Film (Olivier Marchal), Best Sound (Pierre Mertens, François Maurel, Sylvain Lasseur, Joël Rangon), Best Supporting Actor (André Dussollier), Best Supporting Actress (Mylène Demongeot), Best Writing - Original or Adaptation (Olivier Marchal, Frank Mancuso, Julien Rappeneau
Cinematic Intelligence Agency Trenchcoat Awards 2005: Nominated: Best title, Best crime-fighter (Léo Vrinks - Daniel Auteuil)

Studios and distributors:

Sharmill Films

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

36 Quai des Orfèvres is a dark and nasty French cop thriller movie that will leave you feeling mean and dirty. It is not a case of good cop/bad cop, rather bad cop/worse cop. Getting in the way of Daniel Auteuil and Gérard Depardieu is a dangerous move, whether you're a civilian, a criminal or a copper. Just do your best to stay away.

Unless, of course, you're an audience member, in which case the injunction is quite the opposite. You want drama? You want corruption? You want betrayal? You want thrills? You want blood? 36 Quai des Orfèvres has all this and more, in spades. The performances are terrifically tight from everyone. The camera work puts you right in the thick of it (like The Bill before it went soft). Olivier Marchal's direction is intense: the characters are relentless, the story never lets up, the view is gritty and gloomy. Formidable!

If you like criminals, police or criminal police then see this film: I guarantee that you'll like it.