The Cop (1970) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A police investigation into murder and corruption gradually becomes a moral collapse driven by revenge and coercive justice.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Murder Behind Protection

An inspector returns to duty and investigates a bar owner's murder. The case exposes a drug operation protected by police and politicians.

Key Events

• Inspector Returns to Duty — A suspended inspector returns to duty after being posted away for indiscipline and reconnects with an old friend. Location: Police station
• Murder Investigation Begins — The inspector and his friend investigate the murder of a bar owner. Location: Murdered bar
• Drug Distribution Motive — The investigation links the killing to the owner's refusal to distribute drugs for a local crime lord. Location: The bar
• Political Protection Revealed — The crime lord is described as protected by police officers and politicians. Location: Police offices
• Sister Arrives — The murdered owner's sister arrives to settle his affairs. Location: The bar

Violence Fuels Revenge

The victim's sister is attacked and the bar is destroyed. An old friend hides her and begins planning revenge against the crime lord.

Key Events

• Bar Destroyed — The killers' associates beat the sister and wreck the bar. Location: The bar
• Girl Hidden at Stud Farm — An old friend of the victim hides the injured girl at his stud farm. Location: Stud farm
• Revenge Plan Formed — The victim's friend decides to avenge the murder and recruits an ex-mercenary. Location: Stud farm
• Alibi Arranged — A third colleague agrees to claim that the two avengers were playing cards with him and his wife. Location: Private residence

The Rooftop Killing

Two former mercenaries arrange an alibi and assassinate the crime lord. Their escape ends in a gunfight that kills a policeman.

Key Events

• Crime Lord Assassinated — The two avengers shoot the crime lord as he leaves his private gambling club. Location: Private gambling club
• Rooftop Escape — The assassins escape across the roof and encounter two policemen. Location: Rooftops
• Police Ambush Exchange — The policemen fire warning shots, the fugitives return fire, and one policeman is killed. Location: Rooftops

Justice Becomes Revenge

The inspector pursues the conspirators through coercion, shootings, and beatings. His methods increasingly resemble the criminal violence he investigates.

Key Events

• Unorthodox Hunt Approved — The inspector receives permission to lead the hunt for the killer in his own way. Location: Police station
• Goon Interrogation — The inspector tracks down two goons connected to the gambling club and demands information. Location: Police holding room
• Name Extracted — After shooting one uncooperative goon, the inspector obtains the ex-mercenary's name from the other. Location: Police holding room
• Execution as Revenge — The inspector tells the ex-mercenary that revenge requires shooting him, then prepares to pull the trigger. Location: Unknown meeting place
• Moral Accusation — Before the shot, the ex-mercenary warns that the inspector's act would make him no better than a criminal. Location: Unknown meeting place
• Prisoner Refuses to Betray — The police arrest the victim's friend, but he reveals nothing despite being beaten. Location: Jail

Resignation at the River

After another suspension, the inspector isolates himself. An escaped prisoner confronts him, is killed by police, and leaves the inspector to resign.

Key Events

• False Alibi Maintained — The inspector beats the alibi witness, who continues to support the false card-playing story. Location: Private residence
• Second Suspension — The inspector is suspended again, sends his wife away, and remains alone at his riverside home. Location: Inspector's riverside home
• Betrayal of the Hideout — The alibi witness finds the inspector and informs the imprisoned avenger and the victim's sister. Location: Inspector's riverside home
• Police Surround the House — The sister approaches the inspector while police surround the house, anticipating the escaped prisoner's arrival. Location: Riverside home
• Armed Confrontation — The escaped prisoner confronts the inspector, and surrounding police shoot him down. Location: Riverside home
• Written Report Delivered — The inspector hands over a written report of his investigation, ending with his resignation. Location: Riverside home

Story Breakdown

• Return to Duty — The inspector resumes police work after disciplinary exile and reconnects with an old friend.
  • Disciplinary Posting — The inspector had been posted away for indiscipline.
  • Old Partnership — He links up with his former friend to investigate a murder.
• Bar Murder — A murdered bar owner becomes the entry point into a drug distribution network.
  • Refused Drug Use — The owner refused to let his premises distribute drugs.
  • Political Protection — The local crime lord is protected by police and politicians.
• Family Intimidation — Violence against the victim's sister demonstrates the criminals' determination to control the evidence.
  • Sister Arrives — The sister comes to settle the murdered owner's affairs.
  • Bar Wrecked — The goons beat her and destroy the bar.
• Revenge Alliance — The victim's old friend hides the girl and recruits an ex-mercenary for retaliation.
  • Stud Farm Refuge — The girl is hidden at a stud farm.
  • Alibi Scheme — A colleague prepares a false card-playing alibi.
• Gambling Club Assassination — The revenge plan succeeds but immediately collides with the police.
  • Target Leaves Club — The crime lord leaves his private gambling club.
  • Rooftop Gunfight — The assassins exchange fire with two policemen during their escape.
• Coercive Investigation — The inspector pursues the suspects through violence and increasingly questionable methods.
  • Goon Gives Name — A surviving goon identifies the ex-mercenary after another goon is shot.
  • Revenge Moral Test — The inspector is warned that execution would make him no better than a criminal.
• Prison And Silence — The arrested conspirator and the alibi witness resist the investigation in different ways.
  • Prisoner Beaten — The arrested avenger gives nothing away despite being beaten.
  • Alibi Survives — The witness maintains the false alibi despite a beating.
• Riverside Reckoning — Suspension, isolation, betrayal, and an armed confrontation bring the investigation to its final moral consequence.
  • House Surrounded — Police surround the inspector's riverside home while anticipating an escaped prisoner's arrival.
  • Final Resignation — The escaped prisoner is shot, and the inspector submits a report ending with his resignation.

Directed by

Yves Boisset

Key Cast

• Michel Bouquet — L'inspecteur Favenin
• Françoise Fabian — Hélène Dassa
• Gianni Garko — Dan Rover
• Michel Constantin — Viletti
• Anne Carrère — Christine