Il n'y a pas de fumée sans feu (1973)
Directed by André Cayatte

Film Review

Two years after the huge success of Mourir d'aimer, ex-lawyer and French film director André Cayatte made Il n'y a pas de fumée sans feu (a.k.a. Where There's Smoke).  Once again, it is a justice-themed movie, this time based on a real-life event which reveals the mean political machinery operating at the scale of a town.  The film was a popular success and, along with other political thrillers, was very trendy in the 1970s.  Many reputable directors made films in this neo-polar genre: Yves Boisset with Le Juge Fayard dit le Sheriff; Marcel Carné with Les Assassins de l'ordre, Pierre Granier-Deferre with Adieu poulet; the list is endless.

When the film was first released, some critics hostile to Cayatte's work found the screenplay implausible but admitted that the film was an attractive and entertaining thriller with never a dull moment.  There is no need to pass judgement on the acting talent of the leading star Annie Girardot.  Nicknamed the middle-class idol after the film, she became Cayatte's main actress and starred in another three of his movies in this genre: the aforementioned Mourir d'aimer; À chacun son enfer; and L'Amour en question.   The superb supporting cast contribute as much to the film's credibility as Girardot.  This includes: Bernard Fresson (Girardot's off-screen partner); an impeccable Mireille Darc (Georges Lautner's muse); the film and theatre giant Michel Bouquet; and Mathieu Carrière, who later appeared with Yves Montand in Alain Corneau's Police python 357.  Il n'y a pas de fumée sans feu was entered in the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Silver Bear special jury prize.

Film Synopsis

With no serious contender to oppose him, Joseph Boussard is confident that he will be re-elected as mayor of Chavigny, a small town on the outskirts of Paris.  And what opposition there is he intends to crush, utterly, with the help of his loyal band of helpers.  Boussard's reputation for skulduggery and ruthlessness earns him a fierce enemy in Dr Peyrac, who decides to run against him.  It seems that, for the first time in his political career, Boussard is up against someone who might beat him.  Peyrac is widely respected and a credible challenger - two things that his opponent intends to rectify.  Boussard's opportunity to discredit his rival comes when his loyal secretary, Morlaix, learns that Peyrac's wife Sylvie is a friend of Olga Leroy, a woman who is known to host sordid orgies for her well-heeled entourage.

By publishing a fake photograph purporting to show Madame Peyrac at one of Olga's famous orgies, Boussard is certain that he will have ruined his opponent's electoral chances.  Peyrac isn't going to be defeated so easily.  To get to the truth he immediately sets about finding the person who supposedly took the incriminating photograph, but the photographer is killed before he can testify in his favour.  It is Peyrac who ends up being arrested for the well-timed murder.  It is up his wife now to clear his name and expose his dangerous adversary.  Fortunately, she can count on the support of Olga, who has many useful friends in high places...