Pasha (in French Le Pacha) is a 1968 French crime thriller film directed by Georges Lautner and starring Jean Gabin. It was adapted from Jean Laborde's 1967 novel Pouce!. Serge Gainsbourg wrote several songs that appear in the film.
Albert Gouvion, a police inspector, is part of a convoy that transports a large quantity of precious stones. The convoy is attacked by a gang of thieves led by Quinquin and the stones are stolen. Albert Gouvion survives the attack. He is chewed out by Joss (Gabin), his friend and superior, because he could not prevent the attack. Meanwhile, Quinquin murders his accomplices one by one.
Pasha provides examples of:
- The Alibi: Quinquin murders Gouvion, but he creates a false alibi: he is supposed to have played poker in the restaurant of Le Coréen. Joss does not buy it.
- And This Is for...: After shooting down Quinquin, Joss lets him know that this is for murdering his friend Gouvion.
- As Himself: Serge Gainsbourg plays his own role: he appears as a singer in the music studio scene.
- The Cameo: Serge Gainsbourg appears As Himself in a scene, where Joss goes to a music studio to meet Le Génois.
- Cowboy Cop: Joss deal with some cases the way he believes is appropriate. It includes the beating-up of Le Coréen and the extrajudicial execution of Quinquin: he shoots him down without warning because he killed his friend Gouvion.
- Da Chief: Paul, the head of the police, sometimes criticizes Joss for his Cowboy Cop methods. He still lets Joss deal with some cases the way Joss believes is appropriate.
- Dirty Cop: Albert Gouvion, a police inspector, is in cahoot with the mobsters who attack the convoy that he is supposed to protect.
- Dude, Where's My Respect?: According to Nathalie, one of the reasons why Gouvion became a Dirty Cop is that he thought he did not get the proper recognition for his job (for example, he did not receive the Legion of Honour).
- Fanservice: The nightclub scene, which includes many partially nude female dancers.
- The Film of the Book: The film is adapted from Pouce ! a 1967 novel by Jean Laborde.
- How We Got Here: The film opens with the funeral of Albert Gouvion. Then Joss tells us how we got here. His story begins with the attack of the convoy.
- The Informant: Ernest is a mobster who is forced to work as an informant for Joss. He tells him that Le Génois plans to steal money from a train. Joss despises him.
- Lawman Gone Bad: Albert Gouvion became a Dirty Cop because he wanted to get money to support Nathalie Villar, his mistress.
- Make It Look Like an Accident: When Gouvion's body is found, the police first thinks that he accidentally killed himself while cleaning his gun. Joss does not buy it and he is right: Quinquin murdered Gouvion.
- Newscaster Cameo: Léon Zitrone, a real-life sports correspondent, appears briefly on a television: he covers a horse race.
- Police Brutality: Joss beats up Le Coréen to make him talk. He also shoots down Quinquin without warning.
- Train Job: Le Génois robs a train that is carrying a large sum of money.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Quinquin murders his accomplices (including Gouvion) one by one after the attack, so that he can keep the booty for himself.
