Les Brigades du Tigre

1907, at the beginning of this century when life

is transforming at the accelerated pace of a triumphant industry,

the traditional structures of the old society rumble

more and more each day behind the façade of the Belle Époque.

Crime is increasing in proportions all the more alarming

as a new kind of delinquency has emerged, relying on technological progress

and thwarting an archaic police whose methods

and equipment have changed little in a century.

One figure is more telling than anything: during the year 1906,

one hundred and three thousand criminal or misdemeanor cases

were closed without their perpetrators being identified.

The year 1907 looks even worse.

The safety of cities and the countryside is at stake.

Safety in our cities... Ask Le Gaulois.

Le Gaulois, buy Le Gaulois.

Le Gaulois.

It's for an arrest, once again, because they...

there are several of them. How many men do you have?

Do you have their authorization? - Listen, later, it's urgent.

Gather your men and follow me.

I'm sorry, inspector, without a legal warrant we cannot intervene.

Where is the brigadier? Then go fetch him for me.

Listen, if you want. - It's urgent, just do what I say.

Alright, alright, if you're so determined.

Oiseau, find the brigadier right away.

I'm working on the report 'The chicken theft'.

Drop that. - Alright, alright.

Give him this. - Aren't you waiting for him?

No, no time, I must watch the house.

That seems serious. - Yes.

The address is on it, hurry. - No problem.

If the sergeant agrees, we prepare and we come.

Brigadier!

Do you have a requisition order?

No, but the bandits are there, we must act quickly.

They heard you coming, it's the Charbonniers...

The Charbonniers. - That's not proper procedure.

Are you sure?

I've been dealing with this gang for two months.

And for the first time, chance puts me on their trail.

Proper or not, the important thing is to catch them. Come.

You wait here. We'll see for ourselves.

Gendarmerie, open the door!

Pursue them!

Anyway, they are now in Château. It's no longer our jurisdiction.

And if they leave Château,

it will no longer be under Château gendarmerie's jurisdiction either.

And so on until they die of old age.

Come in!

Good day, sir.

Sit down!

That Charbonniers gang, any news?

Yes, news. The man I was following slipped away like a torpedo.

That's unfortunate. - Unfortunate...

and I suppose we can do nothing about it?

I'm not blaming anyone. - I am, believe it or not.

The number of our failures makes me sick.

You are still young.

You will soon learn the virtues of patience.

We will set aside idle considerations.

That is not why I asked you to come. Sit down.

It is another matter...

Much simpler.

You certainly know Bonnerive?

Ah, the deputy. - That's right.

A very influential man, as you know, and moreover a personal friend.

He is dealing with a small problem he asked me to solve.

Here is what it's about... His son...

A very charming young man, but a bit frivolous at times,

has indulged in an easy affair with a woman of ill repute.

Alas, the young woman claims to have become pregnant by him.

It turns out that the young lady

is in the hands of a protector who sought to take advantage of the situation.

In short, a bit of blackmail

quite unpleasant for a man in Bonnerive's position.

Yes, I see.

A favor among people of society.

Come in!

The newspapers, sir Director.

I thought you were the man for the job.

Put them there.

Thank you.

Can I count on you?

In the absence of thrushes, one eats blackbirds.

What did you say? - Nothing...

I am going to visit Mr. Bonnerive.

Thank you.

My God, what times.

What do you want? - Mr. Bonnerive, please.

From whom? - Inspector Valentin.

Ah, the police. He is expecting you.

Would you like a cigar? - No, sir.

You are wrong.

Truly good.

You will say: what was he doing in that mess?

We have all been young. Well, me... you still are.

I think I even did worse than him at his age.

But I didn't have the luck of having a father who was a deputy.

Do you think you can reason with this individual?

Legally, blackmail is punishable by imprisonment.

Yes, I know.

I would prefer a slightly less spectacular action.

We considered paying that man

a certain amount, of course on the condition...

that no one thinks it's a good idea.

Listen...

I had already planned that sum anyway.

You can do with it as you please.

After all, you are doing me a personal service.

Not to me, to my boss. - Well.

You understand me. - No, I don't understand you.

Excuse me, I don't want to put you further in trouble.

May I say something in return?

Please. - What do you think of the police?

It is a very respectable institution and...

completely ineffective.

I know the press has not been very kind to you lately,

but believe me. - Well, they have their reasons, sir.

We are no longer able to carry out our mission.

I don't quite see it...

I thought it was my duty to inform representatives of the people.

Be assured, my dear, that my group and I...

are fully aware of the difficulties and during the vote on the credits...

we will always support you. - It's not just about credits.

Yes, of course, you see...

Excuse me, but you have an appointment in 20 minutes.

That is indeed so.

Pleased to meet you, inspector.

Think about our little matter.

You would oblige me.

Rafa, that's the name of our man. Rafa.

What is going on?

Ah, it's you, Valentin. You scared me. I thought it was the boss.

He has already made remarks to me.

This house has drafts everywhere, and at my age...

What do you want?

Rafa, does that mean anything to you? A pimp, something like that.

Yeah, he's small fry.

He likely got three years in prison for a related case.

Arrogant, draped, with flashes of devotion.

He often hangs around a café near where he lived.

May I? It's getting cold.

Your choice, Rafa.

Either you give up and live your life...

Or you keep insisting, but trust me, we will not miss you.

It is always the same, the small ones pay.

We do not touch the big ones.

The big ones always get their share.

You should not laugh, inspector.

I still have something to do.

A red wine.

Those are not yours.

So, what do you think?

I know nothing, absolutely nothing. - Naturally.

Ah, Masson.

There is the man in question.

Bonniche, Étienne Bonniche, I remember him very well.

A case from six or seven years ago.

Make a report on the recurring details.

So, what is being said?

If you could tell me something about the Charbonniers gang.

Who did you have an appointment with?

Bonniche, no acting with me. You are not going to

pretend that I scare you that much.

I am not afraid of you. - Here you are not at risk.

If I ever talk, then I am lost.

Wherever I am, even in prison.

Use your common sense.

If you speak now, you help us to

catch them. They can no longer do anything against you.

Catch them? Come on, inspector, be serious.

I have nothing against you personally, I am speaking about the police in general.

You know very well you can do nothing against them.

They are a hundred times stronger and better organized than you.

Bonniche, for now I only need one thing.

That you repeat what you just said when I ask you.

Take him away.

Haven't you changed your mind yet?

Get in there.

We will visit your apartment.

Cheers. - Cheers, yes.

Only two men will come with me.

What do you want? The republican guard?

Come on, get in! You are not in danger.

I'm not in danger? That's what you say.

Don't worry. I am coming too, but not for you.

Question of principle. Let's go.

Let's go.

Hands up, and quickly!

Hands up.

Stay where you are. Don't move!

This spectacular attack was the final straw.

From all sides, voices suddenly rose...

calling for strong measures.

Then, on February 28, 1907, the deputy André Bonnerive...

made a notable interpellation in the Chamber.

The government's response was not sufficient to wait for.

On March 4, Georges Clémenceau, Minister of...

Interior Affairs, published the first of a series of decrees...

that established a police force