There Once Was a Cop

1972 1h 35m FR

😐

6.1

MID

★6.1TMDB · 51

CrimeComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Campana, a commissar at the drugs bureau of Paris police gets an undercover job in Nice to catch an Italian-French mafia boss. As he slips into the identity of a gangster's brother, who was already killed, he has to play the role of a loving husband with child - something that is not so easy for a confirmed single like Campana. Unfortunately American killers chase behind the Nice mafia clan too, in order to get control of French drug trades to USA.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Michael Lonsdale
Commissioner Lucas
Michel Constantin
Commissioner Campana alias Louis Lopez
Mireille Darc
Christine alias Françoise
Robert Dalban
Commissioner Chauvet, Superintendent in Nice
Daniel Ivernel
Ligmann
Venantino Venantini
Felice, killer
Hervé Hillien
Bertrand, Christine's son
Henri Guybet
PJ inspector

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Georges Lautner
Writers: Georges Lautner, Francis Veber
Languages: French, Italian
Countries: France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

54 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: French, Italian.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Georges Lautner, shot by Maurice Fellous. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Eddie Vartan. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Michelle David shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Michael Lonsdale and Michel Constantin and Mireille Darc carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0067237 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 51 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Georges Lautner directs. Maurice Fellous behind the camera. Eddie Vartan scores. Michelle David cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in France. Dialogue in French, Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

154 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: French, Italian.
3Directed by Georges Lautner, shot by Maurice Fellous. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Eddie Vartan. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Michelle David shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Michael Lonsdale and Michel Constantin and Mireille Darc carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0067237 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 51 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
9Released under 15 different titles around the world.