Set in the criminal underworld of Belle Époque Paris, Jacques Becker’s glorious tragic melodrama, one of the great French films of the 1950s is ready to be rediscovered.

Marie (Simone Signoret) is nicknamed Casque d’Or – helmet of gold – by her gangster lover Roland thanks to her distinctive coiffure. The story unfolds in an open-air dancehall on the banks of the Marne where Marie meets and falls hopelessly in love with handsome stranger George (Serge Reggiani), much to Roland’s chagrin. Their clandestine affair triggers a rivalry that descends into treachery and murder.

The IFI would like to thank Christine Houard at l’Institut Français.

Screening as part of the IFI French Film Festival 2016