Sinners of Paris (Rafles sur la ville)

Original Theatrical Poster

Country	France
Directed by	Pierre Chenal
Release Date	1958
Language	French
Studio	Films Metzger et Woog

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Léonce Pozzi alias Le Fondu	Charles Vanel
Inspector Paul Vardier	Michel Piccoli
Inspector Gilbert Barot	François Guérin
Lucie Barot	Danik Patisson
Cri-cri	Bella Darvi
Commissioneer René Brévet	Jean Brochard
Jeannot Donati alias Le Nicois	Marcel Mouloudji
Loulou	Monique Tanguy

Sinners of Paris (original title Rafles sur la ville ("Raids on the city")) is a 1958 French crime drama directed by Pierre Chenal and based on the novel by Auguste Le Breton. Gangster Le Fondu (Charles Vanel) escapes from the prison hospital, killing a police inspector who pursued him. Paul Vardier (Michel Piccoli), the partner of the deceased inspector, begins his personal hunt for Le Fondu, making the gangster's nephew, a petty pimp, his informer. Meanwhile Vardier gets a new partner, rookie Gilbert Barot (François Guérin), whose charming wife Lucie (Danik Patisson) became the love interest of Vardier.

The following weapons were used in the film Sinners of Paris (Rafles sur la ville):

Pistols

FN Model 1922

Several police detectives, notably Inspector Taillis (Georges Vitray), carry FN Model 1922 pistols. An FN M1922 is also seen in hands of an insane man (Henri Coutet). Le Fondu (Charles Vanel) uses an FN M1922 to kill his nephew Jeannot Donati (Marcel Mouloudji) when the gangster uncovers that the young man is a police informer.

FN Model 1922 - .32 ACP

The insane man shoots through the door at Inspectors Vardier and Barot who try to calm him.

Vardier manages to persuade the man to surrender.

Le Fondu kills Donati.

Inspector Taillis holds an FN Model 1922 during the operation against Le Fondu's gang.

Another view of Taillis' pistol.

A police inspector aims his pistol at a suspect during the raid on supposed Le Fondu's hideout.

Walther PPK

Several police detectives carry Walther PPK pistols.

Walther PPK - 9x17mm

A police inspector at the right holds a pistol that can be a Walther PPK. An inspector at the left holds an FN Model 1922.

A police inspector holds a supposed PPK during the arrest of Le Fondu.

Another view of same character's pistol.

Various pistols

In several scenes police detectives and criminals hold pistols that are seen only partially or too briefly so they are hard to be identified.

Inspector Gilbert Barot (François Guérin) holds a pistol during the encounter with the insane man. It is possibly a MAB Model D (the pistol seems to have a rear sight that excludes similar looking FN Model 1910) but this guess is vague.

Le Fondu (Charles Vanel) very briefly holds a pistol. It is shorter than the FN Model 1922 that the gangster uses later.

A police inspector at the right holds a pistol.

Same inspector (at the left) with his pistol in hand during the arrest of Le Fondu. This pistol can be a Colt M1911A1 or a Browning Hi-Power. An inspector at the right holds an FN Model 1922.

Percussion Cap Pistol

Le Fondu's mistress Cri-cri (Bella Darvi) uses a Percussion Cap Pistol (possibly a theatrical mockup) to pistol-whip Le Fondu during the conflict between the two.

For comparison: Chatellerault Model 1833 Cavalry Pistol - .69 cal

Cri-cri grabs an ancient pistol and hits Le Fondu.

Submachine Guns

Thompson M1921AC

In the opening scene Le Fondu (Charles Vanel) incapacitates a gendarme who guards his room in hospital and takes his Thompson M1921AC submachine gun. During the escape Le Fondu's gun switches to a Sten Mk II (see below) due to a continuity error and then back to Thompson. Inspector Paul Vardier (Michel Piccoli) also carries an M1921AC in the same scene. Inspector Gilbert Barot (François Guérin) is armed with an M1921AC during the operation against Le Fondu's gang.

Colt M1921AC Thompson with 20-round magazine - .45 ACP.

A gendarme (Alfred Goulin) on guard with a Thompson.

He hears a suspicious noise.

Le Fondu seizes the submachine gun.

Le Fondu fires at pursuing Inspector Lebouvier.

Vardier holds an M1921AC Thompson.

Barot (at the left) with M1921AC and Vardier (at the right) with M1A1 during the operation against the gang.

Another view of Barot's Thompson.

Thompson M1A1

During Le Fondu's escape Inspector Lebouvier (Alain Reynaud) is armed with a Thompson M1A1 submachine gun. During the operaction against the gang Vardier carries an M1A1.

M1A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP

Lebouvier holds an M1A1 Thompson.

Lebouvier pursues Le Fondu on the roof and aims his Thompson.

Barot (at the left) with M1921AC and Vardier (at the right) with M1A1 during the operation against the gang.

Another view of Vardier's M1A1.

Sten Mk II

Due to a continuity error Le Fondu's Thompson switches to a Sten Mk II during the gangster's escape. Le Fondu uses a Sten during the robbery of the fur store and the following shootout with police.

Sten Mk II (Canadian) - 9x19mm

Le Fondu's Thompson switches to a Sten when the escaped gangster gets to the roof; the skeleton stock is seen.

Le Fondu holds a Sten during the robbery of the fur store.

The barrel of the Sten is seen.

Le Fondu escapes from police.

Le Fondu fires at Inspectors Barot and Taillis.

Other Weapons

Hand Grenade

Le Fondu carries a hand grenade that he calls "his lucky charm". After his arrest, he tries to blow the grenade in the police precinct. The body of the grenade resembles Citron Foug Mle. 1916 but the fuze is different.