Max and the Junkmen

Section: 3 x 3
Title: Max et les ferrailleurs
Director: Claude Sautet
Cast: Romy Schneider, Georges Wilson, Boby Lapointe, Michel Piccoli
Duration: 1h 52m
Country: France
Year: 1971

Max is a Paris detective frustrated by gangs of robbers whom he cannot catch. To re-establish his stature and save face, he decides to inveigle a group of petty thieves to rob a bank. A reluctant captain provides Max intelligence and Max starts spending evenings with Lilly, a prostitute who's the girlfriend of the group's leader. He poses as a rich banker with money to burn and encourages Lilly to think about her future. He hints at a payroll that comes through his bank. The plot works, the petty thieves think they're ready for a big score, and the cops are in place. What could go wrong with Max's cold plan?