Disc Reviews

A Good Thief is Hard to Find in Decoin’s Razzia sur la chnouf (1955) | Blu-ray Review

Published on August 13, 2019

A classic from the underrated filmography of Henri Decoin, 1955’s Razzia sur la chnouf (Raid on Drugs) is based on a novel by Auguste Le Breton, who wrote Rififi and Bob Le Flambeur, which would end up being seminal titles directed by Jules Dassin and Jean-Pierre Melville, respectively.

Decoin’s film has been eclipsed by those more famed titles, but is nevertheless one of Jean Gabin’s more notable later period roles, who stars as Henri Ferre (aka the Man from Nantes), who arrives back in Paris after a notable criminal career in the US. Immediately tailed by law enforcement upon his return to France, he’s recruited by Paul Liski (Marcel Dalio), who wants Ferre to improve his hustle in narcotics. Installed as the head of a popular restaurant as a front for their nefarious dealings, Ferre puts the pressure on his subordinates, dispelling of the riff-raff who have been stealing from the supply or failing to distribute their goods effectively. Utilizing two hitmen to do his bidding (Lino Ventura and Albert Remy), business booms and then eventually spins out of control. While Gabin romances the lithesome Lisette (Magali Noel), an employee at his restaurant, it’s Russian actress Lila Kedrova (Oscar winner for Zorba the Greek, 1964) as Lea who really shines as an out-of-control alcoholic who compromises operations.

While much of Razzia sur la chnouf’s plotting feels familiar, including its eventual narrative twist, Decoin gets to a seediness unheralded in American noir of the same period. Kedrova takes Gabin into the Arabian underworld of Paris, a community which deals in marijuana. The drunken Lea seduces a black man dancing in the smoke-filled tavern only to be descended upon by a myriad of men. Decoin’s depictions of sexual proclivities and the downside of addiction give the film a flinty, sobering quality many of its period American counterparts were never allowed to reach.

Disc Review:

Kino Lorber revitalizes Razzia as part of their Studio Classics in 1.37:1 with audio commentary from film critic Nick Pinkerton. Picture and sound quality are serviceable in the transfer, which was photographed by Pierre Montazel.

Film Rating: ★★★½/☆☆☆☆☆
Disc Rating: ★★★/☆☆☆☆☆

Nicholas Bell

Los Angeles based Nicholas Bell is IONCINEMA.com's Chief Film Critic and covers film festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, Cannes and TIFF. He is part of the critic groups on Rotten Tomatoes, The Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) and GALECA. His top 3 for 2021: France (Bruno Dumont), Passing (Rebecca Hall) and Nightmare Alley (Guillermo Del Toro). He was a jury member at the 2019 Cleveland International Film Festival.