Rififi

Tony le Stéphanois (Jean Servais) is a grim, hardboiled crook fresh from a stretch in stir for the noble gesture of taking a rap for his younger buddy Jo le Suedois (Carl Mohner), a mug who mixes crime with his role as a family man. Tony tracks down his old flame Mado (Marie Sabouret). When he finds she's been unfaithful, he first makes her strip and then beats her with a belt so hard he leaves permanent scars on her back. A resulting depression prompts him to throw in with Jo and the fun-loving Mario (Robert Manuel) on a risky and complicated jewel heist. The well-planned Caper culminates in a long, realistic, dialogue-free break-in scene that involves cutting through buildings and outwitting a modern alarm system. All goes more than well until imported safecracker Cesar (Jules Dassin, the director) steals an extra little diamond tidbit for the sexy singer (Magali Noel) he's dating.