How a Wrecked 2CV Led to the World's Most Valuable Diamond
In short: In the 1965 comedy The Sucker, a naïve vacationer finds his car destroyed by a wealthy criminal. Offered a luxury Cadillac as compensation, he unknowingly becomes a courier for a massive smuggling operation. What follows is a chaotic, continent-spanning chase involving rival gangs, stolen gems, and an unexpected police showdown.
Directed by Gérard Oury, The Sucker (Le Corniaud) remains a landmark of French cinema. Released in 1965, it became the most popular film at the French box office that year and continues to rank among the 25 most-watched films in the country. The story follows Antoine Maréchal, whose modest 2CV is demolished by the Rolls-Royce of Léopold Saroyan, a director of a criminal syndicate. To keep Maréchal compliant, Saroyan gifts him a 1964 Cadillac DeVille convertible for a trip from Naples to Bordeaux, unaware that the vehicle is packed with heroin, gold, and the Youkounkoun, the world's largest diamond.
The journey is defined by absurdity and misfortune. As Maréchal drives, he is shadowed by Saroyan’s gang and a rival Italian group, both desperate to reclaim the illicit cargo. Along the way, the gold is removed after an accident, and the heroin is destroyed during a violent gun battle between the two criminal factions. Maréchal, largely oblivious to the true nature of his cargo, survives multiple attempts on his life—including a narrow escape from a crook named Mickey—before eventually realizing Saroyan’s criminal intent upon reaching the French border at Menton.
The film’s climax sees Maréchal outsmarting his pursuers by luring them into a police station in Carcassonne. Despite the chaos, he manages to complete his journey to Bordeaux. In a final twist, a collision with a prison transport vehicle reveals the hidden Youkounkoun diamond, promising Maréchal a reward of 100 million francs. The film’s enduring appeal was recognized internationally, winning the Best Scenario award at the 4th Moscow International Film Festival and an award from ENIT for its portrayal of Italy's beauty. It stands as a definitive collaboration between Oury, Louis de Funès, and Bourvil, cementing its place in European cultural history.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Sucker
- Also: Wikidata — The Sucker · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — The Sucker · CC0
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