TheexploitsofthreeyoungRomancriminalsarechronicledinthissociallyconsciousdrama.Theyoungmencommitpettycrimesalldaybeginwitharmstheft,andculminatingwithanightwiththreestreetwalkers.Aftertheirpleasure,theboystrytocheatthehookers,buttheyladiesaresmarterthanthatandhavestolentheircashaheadoftime.Thepunksthenreturntothecityformorecrimes.Exploitsincludetheharassmentofthreehomosexuals,andattemptstoseducesomewomenccc

　　MiddleclassstudentBobLetellierentersanewworldwhenhemeetsAlain,afree-thinkingrebelwho,alongwithhisgroupofyoungParisians,hasoptedforalifeofinstantgratificationinsteadofworkandcommitment.Ataparty,Bobmeetsayoungwoman,Mic,whoappearstobejustascarefreeandcynicalasAlain.Mic'sonlydreamistoownaluxurycar,andwithBob'shelp,shemanagestofindthemoneytobutit.Mic'sfriendClodiscoverssheispregnantand,notknowingwhothefatheris,sheasksBobtomarryher.Whentheynextmeetataparty,BobandMicdenythattheyhaveanyfeelingsforoneanother-adeclarationthatsoonleadstotragedy..aaa　　　　MarcelCarnéiswidelyregardedasoneofthestandardbearersofFrenchqualitycinemaofthe1930sand1940s,responsibleforsuchmasterpiecesasQuaidesbrumes(1938)andLesEnfantsduParadis(1945).Howironicthenthat,in1958,towardstheendofhisfilm-makingcareer,heshouldmakeafilmwhichdaredtoportraytheattitudesandbehaviourofthe1950syouth,inawaythateffectivelycapturesthemoodandsentimentofthetime.　　　　LesTricheurswasahugelycontroversialfilm,notleastbecauseofitsblatantdepictionofadolescentfree-love,andwasevenbannedinsomeregionsofFrance.Italsoreceivedsomeintenselyunfavourablereviews,mostnotablyfromtheyounghotheadsontheCahiersducinémasuchasFrançoisTruffautwhocitedthisfilmasaprimeexampleofthedeclineofFrenchcinemaintomediocrity.Inspiteofallthisnegativepress,thefilmprovedtobeanastonishingcommercialsuccess,attractingfivemillioncinema-goers,andwasawardedtheGrandPrixduCinémafrançaisin1958.　　　　WhilstLesTricheursisnotasflawlessasCarné'searliermasterpieces,itisnonethelessasignificantwork,havingthepowertobothshockandmoveitsaudience,whilsthavinggreatentertainmentvalue.ItevokesthemoodofitstimeinawaythatfewFrenchfilmsofthisperioddid,depictingyoungpeopleaspleasure-seekingrebels,rejectingtheausterityanddisciplineofthepreviousgenerationwhilstpursuingalifewithoutcares,responsibilitiesorlove.SimilaritieswithJamesDean'sfilmsofthe1950s(mostnotablyRebelwithoutaCause)areapparent,althoughCarné'streatmentofyoungpeopleisfarmoreabstract-inhisfilmtheymerelysymboliseaworldthathaslostitsway,moreorlessvictimsofpost-warprosperity.AlthoughtheyoungpeopleinLesTricheurslacktheauthenticitytobetotallycredible,thefilmdoesmakeanimportant,andindeedquitedisturbingpoint,aboutwherethepermissivesocietymaybeheading.　　　　Muchofthepleasureofthefilmisintheperformancesfromitsfourleadactors,JacquesCharrier,PascalePetit,LaurentTerzieffandAndréaParisy,althoughonlyTerzieffisreallyconvincinginhisrole.MarcelCarnéoriginallyconsideredAlainDelonandJean-PaulBelmondoforthepartsofBobandAlainrespectively,beforeoptingforCharrierandTerzieff.Asaconsolation,CarnéofferedBelmondoasmallerpartinthefilm-alastoosmallfortheactortobenoticedbythepublic.Belmondo'sbreakthroughhadtowaituntilthefollowingyearwhenhestarredinJean-LucGodard'srevolutionaryAboutdesouffle,afilmwhichoffersaverydifferentperspectiveoftheyouthgeneration.

　　皮埃尔（保罗·弗兰克尔PaulFrankeur饰）和吉恩（劳伦特·特兹弗LaurentTerzieff饰）是两个从巴黎出发，沿圣雅各伯之路步行前往西班牙圣地亚哥-德孔波斯特拉古城的朝圣者。刚一出发，他们就遇到了一个披黑斗篷的奇怪男人（阿兰·克尼AlainCuny饰），预言二人将会与一妓女有染，并诞下子嗣。一路上，皮埃尔和吉恩穿越不同时空，遇到了形形色色的天主教异教徒，目睹了普里西利安（让-克劳德·卡里尔Jean-ClaudeCarrière饰）的神秘林中仪式，及耶稣会成员与詹森派成员的决斗。到达西班牙后，二人同意为路遇的两名年轻人看守驴子与货物。这二人因公然挑战三位一体的教条而被追捕，其中一人当晚却亲见圣母马利亚（爱迪丝·斯考博EdithScob饰）显灵eee　　本片灵感来自《西班牙异教史》一书，获1969年柏林电影节国际联盟奖（InterfilmAward）。