Police Python 357 (1976)
Police Python 357 (1976), directed by Alain Corneau, starring Yves Montand and François Périer.
score
Synopsis
A methodical police inspector becomes entangled in a web of deceit after a murder investigation reveals disturbing connections to his own department. As suspicion tightens around him, he must outwit both the killer and the system to survive.
- Étienne BeckerCinematography
- Alain CorneauDirector, Writer
- Marie-Josèphe YoyotteEditing
- Albina du BoisrouvrayProducer
About the film
Police Python 357 (also known as The Case Against Ferro) is a 1976 French crime-thriller film written and directed by Alain Corneau. It is partially an adaptation of the storyline of Kenneth Fearing's 1946 novel, The Big Clock along with childhood experiences by Corneau.
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Police Python 357 (also known as The Case Against Ferro) is a 1976 French crime-thriller film written and directed by Alain Corneau. It is partially an adaptation of the storyline of Kenneth Fearing's 1946 novel, The Big Clock along with childhood experiences by Corneau.
Plot
Cast
Yves Montand as Inspector Marc Ferrot
Simone Signoret as Thérèse Ganay
François Périer as Police Commissioner Ganay
Mathieu Carrière as Inspector Ménard
Stefania Sandrelli as Sylvia Leopardi
Vadim Glowna as Inspector Acadie
Claude Bertrand as Merchant of Pigs
Serge Marquand as "The Red"
Production
For his second film after France société anonyme , which a commercially unsuccessful, director Alain Corneau said to himself that he had to ask "What is that [I] really like about cinema?" and said that he loved film noir by Fritz Lang, Don Siegel and American b-movies and wanted to make a detective film. Corneau submitted his idea to producer Albina de Boisrouvray that was part based on a personal memory of his youth and part on Kenneth Fearing's novel The Big Clock. The producer suggested he teamup with playight and poet Daniel Boulganger. The film was shot and set in Orléans.
Police Python 357 was a international co-production between France and West Germany. It was 70% funded by the Paris based Albina Productions and 30% funded by the Munich based TIT Film-produktion.
Release
Police Python 357 was released in France on March 31, 1976. The authors of French Thrillers of the 1970s: Volume I, Crime Films (2026) described it as being successful at the French box office, with over 1,464,000 spectators in France.
It was released in West Germany on September 9, 1976 as Im tödlichen Kreis. It was released in Los Angeles' international film festival; the Filmex Film Festival; as Police Python 357 on March 19, 1977. It was released in Santa Cruz on December 21, 1978 as Police Python while in Miami in December 21, 1979, it was re-titled The Case Against Ferro.
Reception
Police Python 357 won a César Award for Best Editing.
References
Sources
Curti, Roberto; Lafond, Frank (2026). French Thrillers of the 1970s: Volume I, Crime Films. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-1-4766-8681-3. LCCN 2025048366.
External links
Police Python 357 at IMDb
Police Python 357 at the TCM Movie Database (archived)
Text from Police Python 357 on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_Python_357
Trivia
- It premiered on March 31, 1976, a Wednesday.
- It runs 2h05 — a typical feature length.
- As of September 20, 2026, it is available in Brazil by subscription on Cultpix.
- This film's quiz has 12 questions — enough to play more than once without repeats.
Production
- StudiosAlbina Productions, T.I.T. Filmproduktion
- CountriesFrance, Germany
- LanguagesFrench
- StatusReleased
More about this film
Based on
- The Big Clock
Filming locations
- Musée Gustave Moreau
- Orléans
Where to watch
Photos
Cast
-
Yves Montand
Inspecteur Marc Ferrot -
François Périer
Commissaire Ganay -
Simone Signoret
Thérèse Ganay -
Stefania Sandrelli
Sylvia Leopardi -
Vadim Glowna
L'inspecteur Abadie -
Mathieu Carrière
L'inspecteur Ménard -
Claude Bertrand
Le marchand de cochons -
Gabrielle Doulcet
La vieille aux chats - Alice Reichen La marchande de stylos
- Tony Rödel L'Alsacien
- Georges-Fréderic Dehlen Le contrôleur de la S.N.C.F
-
Serge Marquand
Le rouquin - Stéphane Macha
-
Roger Muni
- Malvina Penne
-
Michel Ruhl
- Franz Sauer
Quiz about this movie
Questions from the whole catalogue.
Play nowIf you liked this one
-
Esquadrão Implacável Thriller from the 1970s
6.4
-
Visões de Um Crime
5.9
-
Três Dias e Uma Vida
6.5
-
La Menace Same director: Alain Corneau
5.9
-
Limbo
6.1
-
A Maldição do Espelho
6.1
-
Carga Explosiva 3
6.2
-
Insônia
7.0
-
Jaula Amorosa
6.4
-
Diabolically Yours
5.9
-
Um Criminoso em Fuga
6.7
-
Por um Triz
6.4
Tags
Crew
- Étienne Becker Cinematography
- Alain Corneau Director
- Marie-Josèphe Yoyotte Editing
- Albina du Boisrouvray Producer
- Georges Delerue Original music
- Alain Corneau Writer
- Daniel Boulanger Screenplay
Questions about this film
What is Police Python 357 about?
Police Python 357: A methodical police inspector becomes entangled in a web of deceit after a murder investigation reveals disturbing connections to his own department. As suspicion tightens around him, he must outwit both the killer and the system to survive.
Who directed Police Python 357?
Police Python 357 was directed by Alain Corneau in 1976.
Who stars in Police Python 357?
The cast of Police Python 357 includes Yves Montand, François Périer, Simone Signoret, Stefania Sandrelli and Vadim Glowna.
How long is Police Python 357?
Police Python 357 runs for 125 minutes, or 2h05.
Where can I watch Police Python 357?
Police Python 357 is available on Cultpix. Availability changes often: the list on this page is the most recent we received.
What is Police Python 357 based on?
Police Python 357 is based on The Big Clock.
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Page updated on 09/13/2026.
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