Literary critics at the time were outraged by the fact that Jacques Becker chose to emphasize atmospherics at the expense of psychology. Nevertheless, Becker's approach had a profound effect on the young film-makers that would later go on to form the French New Wave, thereby changing French cinema forever.
Based on a real Paris underworld incident that took place in 1898.
Singer Eunice Waymon was so taken with Simone Signoret's performance in this film that she adopted her name for her stage persona - Nina Simone.
Simone Signoret was supposed to have taken waltz lessons for the scene where her character dances, but she hadn't, so her co-star Serge Reggiani had to prop her up and twirl her round in an imitation of waltzing.
This was Jacques Becker's own favorite film, and the only one of his movies to receive wide international release.