When political thugs murder an opponent's volunteer and also kill a cop, chief inspector Verjeat believes the politician who hired them is as guilty as the murderous goon. Verjeat's pursuit of the councilman, Lardatte, gets him a warning from his superiors. When he embarrasses Lardatte while disarming a hostage (the dead volunteer's father), Verjeat is told he's being transferred within a week. He speeds up his hunt for the goon and, with Lefévre, one of his young detectives, he engineers a complicated scheme to buy more time before the transfer. How should Verjeat play out his values of honor and duty?
Lino Ventura
Commissioner Verjeat
Patrick Dewaere
Inspector Lefèvre
Victor Lanoux
Pierre Lardatte
Julien Guiomar
General controller Ledoux
Pierre Tornade
Commissioner Pignol
Françoise Brion
Marthe Rigaux, boss of the brothel
Claude Rich
Judge Delmesse
Michel Peyrelon
Roger Portor, brother of Antoine
