L'Apprenti salaud (1977)
Directed by Michel Deville

Film Synopsis

Antoine Chapelot is a 50-year-old ironmonger who appears perfectly content with his lacklustre bachelor existence.  On learning he has acquired a small inheritance, he calls on his notary, Maître Chappardon, and this is how comes to meet Caroline, a bubbly trainee who isn't yet half his age.  It is love at first sight, for both of these seemingly ill-matched individuals.  Even though Antoine is older than Caroline by thirty years, he has the same capacity for mischief and the two hastily agree to form a criminal partnership.

Together, this enterprising duo comes up with an ingenious plan to rob a rich family of a large inheritance.  Incredibly, the swindle comes off, but before the crooks can profit from their success Antoine gets himself arrested for a far less serious crime.  Thinking that her darling partner will soon join her, Caroline leaves the country with a suitcase stuffed with banknotes.  Alas, things do not turn out as well as they might have done.  It is Antoine's honesty that is to be his undoing in the end...