Michèle Méritz

Bridging argot-rich 50s masterworks like "Rififi" and "Touchez-pas au Grisbi" with Jean-Pierre Melville's pared-down thrillers of the 60s, Classe Tous Risques (1960) (the title refers to a type of insurance policy, à la "Double Indemnity," but is also a pun on "tourist class") is a penetrating study of the underworld tough guy at the end of his rope, drawn from screenwriter José Giovanni's first-hand knowledge of the post-war French underworld. (Film Forum)

Le Beau Serge was the first film of French critic-turned-director Claude Chabrol. Though not a murder melodrama, the film is heavily influenced by the works of Chabrol's idol Alfred Hitchcock, Shadow of a Doubt in particular. Ailing city dweller Francois (Jean-Claude Brialy) makes a therapeutic return visit to his home town in the country. Here he visits childhood friend Serge (Gerard Blain), and is appalled to find how far Serge has plummeted into alcoholism and self-pity. (amazon.com)

Charles is a young provincial coming up to Paris to study law. He shares his cousin Paul's flat. Paul is a kind of decadent boy, a disillusioned pleasure-seeker, always dragging along with other idles, while Charles is a plodding, naive and honest man. He fell in love with Florence, one of Paul's acquaintances. But how will Paul react to that attempt to build a real love relationship ? One of the major New Wave films. (imdb)