by Hal Erickson
synopsis
La Belle Equipe (The Good Crew) was the fourth of six smash hits in a row for director Julien Duvivier. The fortunes of five unemployed laborers take a radical turn for the better when they jointly win a 100,000-franc lottery prize. Jean Gabin, the self-appointed leader of the bunch, suggests that they not throw their money away but instead invest it in a road-house on the river Marne. Their dreams of instant success are dashed when Vivian Romance, the common-law wife of Gabin's friend Charles Vanel, shows up demanding her portion of the winnings -- then plots the destruction of Gabin because he refuses to make love to her. In the end, "The Good Crew" collapses under the weight of treachery, jealousy and murder.
characteristics
- Sweetheart
- Sweepstakes
- Suspicion
- Secrets
- Troubles
- Wife
- Wives
- Winning
- Winner
- Problems
- Pressure
- France
- Foreign
- Faltering Friendships
- Friend