The middle age bon-vivant Max is a former gangster and close friend of his partner Riton. They have stolen eight gold bars of 12 kg each that worth 50-million francs and Max has kept them hidden for their retirement. Riton's mistress Josy is tired of him and has found a new lover to support her, Angelo, who is a dangerous gangster. Riton has made a comment to Josy about the gold and soon Angelo discovers that Max and Riton have the stolen gold. He abducts Riton to force Max to give the gold to him. Will Max exchange his gold for Riton? 友谊与金钱。金钱与道义。男人的魅力。黑道上的寻常事。非常好。`。金钱不要碰。 生意人麦斯（让·加宾 Jean Gabin 饰）游走于城市中灯火颓靡的场所，与一些黑帮人物保持着来往，不少女人欣赏他沉稳又不失轻佻的做派。是日，麦斯与合作多年的搭档里顿在舞厅里为毒贩安格罗提供了帮助，其时安格罗与里顿的情妇有染，麦斯虽心知肚明，但并未挑破，只是埋怨里顿把过多的精力用在不必要的地方。麦斯将里顿带回秘密住处，告之自己因汽车生意意外得到了价值五千万法郎的金砖。但消息不慎走漏，安格罗等人本欲为女人枪杀里顿，得知金砖存在之后遂将目标改变。麦斯独自摆脱追踪，里顿反因情妇被对方控制，一番权衡之下，麦斯组织人手，要从安格罗手中救下里顿…… 本片获1954年威尼斯电影节最佳男主角奖。
