are musicians in the same orchestra as Perrin), and Maurice, upon accidentally hearing a recording of Perrin and Paulette having torrid sex (made by Milan's agents and listened to inside a floral delivery truck), jumps to the mistaken conclusion that Paulette is having an affair with a florist. All the time, Toulouse and Perrache watch the chaos serenely, although Perrache is troubled by his chief's callousness toward the risk that Perrin might be killed. Christine greets Perrin at her apartment's front door in a demure high-necked black-velvet dress, then turns around and shows that the dress is backless, displaying discreet buttock cleavage. A slapstick love scene (watched by Milan and his cohorts on a television monitor) ensues, concluding with Milan's decision (despite Christine's belief that Perrin could not possibly be an agent) to have Perrin eliminated. More mayhem (including Maurice's learning the truth about his wife's affair) and treachery (including Christine's defection from Milan's group to save Perrin, with whom she has fallen in love) follow, climaxing in the deaths of not only agents from both Toulouse's and Milan's groups but also Milan himself, who only learns the truth about Perrin from Perrache just before he dies. Realizing how he has been fooled, Milan dies with a smile of appreciation. Maurice, who has repeatedly walked in on the aftermaths of the shoot-outs in Perrin's apartment, suffers a total mental breakdown. The film ends as it began, at Orly airport. Perrin pushes a huge Louis Vuitton steamer trunk in an airport luggage cart, talking softly to Christine, who is hidden inside. Their destination is Rio de Janeiro. Toulouse, who has been watching Perrin's departure on a monitor, instructs Perrache to contact Perrin when Perrin returns, remarking, "After all, he handles himself pretty well." Awards The film won the Silver Bear award at the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival in 1973. It was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film by the U.S. National Board of Review. Cast Pierre Richard as François Perrin Bernard Blier as Bernard Milan Jean Rochefort as Colonel Louis Toulouse Mireille Darc as Christine Tania Balachova as Louis Toulouse's mother Jean Carmet as Maurice Lefebvre Colette Castel as Paulette Lefebvre Paul Le Person as Perrache Jean Obé as Botrel Robert Castel as Georghiu Jean Saudray as Poucet Roger Caccia as Mr. Boudart Arlette Balkis as Mrs. Boudart Robert Dalban as the false deliveryman Jean Bouise as the minister Reception