| Director | Jacques Becker |
|---|---|
| Genre | crime film, drama film |
| Runtime | 96 min |
| Country | France |
In Belle Époque Paris, Marie, a beautiful woman of the demimonde known for her golden hair, is unhappily involved with Roland, a brutish criminal who is a part of a local syndicate headed by Félix Leca. At a riverside tavern in Joinville, where the gangsters have retreated following a bank robbery, Marie is introduced to the handsome carpenter Georges Manda by his old friend Raymond, a member of Leca's gang, who became friends with Manda years earlier when they served time in prison together. Marie is instantly and noticeably attracted to Manda, and, after they share an intimate dance, Roland attempts to bully Manda, who knocks Roland out with a single punch.
Roland's jealousy builds, but, unbeknownst to him, Marie has learned since they returned to Paris that Manda has a fiancée, and is therefore trying to forget about him. However, Manda shows up at the gang's regular bar, L'Ange Gabriel, to take Marie from Roland, and the men go out back to fight. Leca, who wants Marie for himself and is waiting for an answer from Marie about whether she wants him to "buy" her from Roland, sets the rules for the fight. He throws a knife on the ground between Manda and Roland, and Manda gains control of the knife and fatally stabs Roland. His fighting skills impress Leca, who offers Manda the newly-vacated spot in the gang, but Manda declines. Marie sees Roland's body and leaves alone.
Anatole, a waiter at L'Ange Gabriel, noticed the trouble brewing and alerted the police, who arrive at the scene while the gang members are attempting to get rid of Roland's body. Everyone flees, and Roland's body is discovered. Shortly thereafter, Anatole is found dead, killed, per Leca's orders, for calling the police. However, the death is made to look like an accident, and Leca even urges the members of his gang to contribute money towards Anatole's funeral.
Manda quits his job and is about to flee town when he gets a note from Marie. He goes to meet her in Joinville, where they stay on a small farm and live an idyllic life for a time. Meanwhile, Leca uses his connections with a crooked police inspector to frame Raymond for Roland's death, and then surprises the lovers with a visit to say that Manda is safe because Raymond has been arrested, believing that Manda will come out of hiding to save his friend, and Marie will then be his. Sure enough, Marie awakens in the morning to discover that Manda has gone to turn himself in, and she goes to Leca to plead with him to help Manda escape from police custody. Leca says it is up to her whether he helps Manda or not, and she succumbs to his advances.
Manda signs a confession, but Raymond is not released. While the frustrated inspector is telling him that he is being charged as an accessory to Roland's murder, Raymond glimpses Leca's name in a note, revealing his boss' duplicity. He is able to share this information with Manda while they are being transported to La Santé Prison.
Leca refuses to attack the transport to free Manda and Raymond, so Marie hires a coach and manages the escape by herself, though Raymond is shot in the process. Manda drops him off at L'Ange Gabriel to die among his friends and then hunts down Leca, finding Marie's slippers in Leca's bedroom. He finally spots Leca in the street and chases him to the police station, where, in front of the stunned officers, he grabs a pistol from a holster, chases Leca into a small courtyard, and empties the gun into him. Now without a job, friend, or love, Manda drops the gun and surrenders to the police.
Paul, a member of Leca's gang, takes Marie to a hotel room overlooking the site where Manda's execution is to take place. He falls asleep, but, at dawn, Marie watches in shock as Manda is led to the guillotine and beheaded. She drops her head, and we see her and Manda dancing in the tavern in Joinville, alone on the dance floor.