The President (Le Président)

Georges Simenon's novel of the same title, with its ending changed, is the basis of The President (French: Le Président), a French-Italian political drama of 1961 that Henri Verneuil directed and adapted for the screen together with Michel Audiard. Running about 110 minutes, it also leans towards the political thriller and rests largely on dialogue.

The story follows an ageing French prime minister played by Jean Gabin, a statesman who has spent his whole life championing the national good, and who is twice betrayed by an opportunistic younger politician played by Bernard Blier. Besides Gabin and Blier, the cast includes Renée Faure, Louis Seigner, Alfred Adam, Bernard Musson, Héléna Manson and Hans Meyer.

The fictional narrative draws on the political arguments of its day, chiefly monetary devaluation and the quarrel between supporters of a European customs union and sceptics who doubt that the project serves the country's welfare and greatness. The title itself points to an old state term: the French prime minister was formerly called the président du conseil des ministres (chairman of the cabinet), a term later replaced by premier ministre.