Robert unsuccessfully tries to earn his living as a rep for brushes . As he can no longer pay his rent, his concierge kicks him out. He steals a wallet but a street vendor forces him to return it and lectures him. Repentant, Robert becomes his friend. Thanks to his courage and his good feelings, he manages to get into a position, owns a car and a lot of money, which makes a neighborhood scoundrel and the daughter of his protector die of envy and jealousy. The girl refused once her love because he was poor.
When André Berthomieu and playwright/screenwriter
Paul Vanderberghe collaborate ,they sometimes come up with a pleasant little comedy."Gringalet "(1946) starring the great Charles Vanel ,bore this out .
"Le roi des camelots" is full of finer feelings , even mentioning the Holy Scripts ("turn the other cheek") and using the essay the cop's son has to write into a moralizing tale ; when Robert returns the money , which he has supposedly stolen , much to his students' surprise , it's another lesson in genrosity ; Robert Lamoureux is excellent as a street vendor and his gift of the gab ,dealing with feathers to sell ball-point pens ,is irresistible .He's less enjoyable as a stand-up comic on stage during the ball .
Jean Carmet ,who would appear later in Chabrol's films, already shows his talent and his stupefied look.
