A smooth-talking French thief wangles his way into an important position as prefect of police.

George Sanders
as Eugéne François Vidocq

Signe Hasso
as Therese De Pierremont

Carole Landis
as Loretta de Richet

Akim Tamiroff
as Emile Vernet

Gene Lockhart
as Prefect of Police Richet

Alma Kruger
as Marquise De Pierremont

Alan Napier
as Houdon De Pierremont, Police Minister

Jo Ann Marlowe
as Mimi De Pierremont

Vladimir Sokoloff
as Uncle Hugo

Pedro de Cordoba
as Priest
CinemaSerf
"Vidocq" - well that's the name he ultimately elects to stick with - has something of the "Oliver Twist" to the story of his birth. His mother was a petty thief, constantly in and out of jail, so he decides to follow in the family tradition where he (now George Sanders) meets "Emile" (Akim Tamiroff)...