Le Crabe-tambour (Drummer-Crab) is a 1977 French film directed by Pierre Schoendoerffer, based on the novel The Paths of the Sea he published in 1976, which is inspired by the adventures of Commander Pierre Guillaume (1925-2002). It was translated into English by the maritime novelist Patrick O'Brian as The Paths of the Sea (1977). The film stars Jean Rochefort, Jacques Perrin and Claude Rich. Highly criticially acclaimed, it won three César Awards: Best Actor Leading Role (Jean Rochefort), Best Actor Supporting Role (Jacques Dufilho) and Best Cinematography (Raoul Coutard) and was nominated for three others.

Plot

The story concerns a trio of contemporary French naval officers on patrol in the North Atlantic who reminisce about their experiences in the First Indochina War and the Algiers Putsch. The Doctor (Claude Rich) has returned to naval service after an unsatisfying civilian life. The Capitan (Jean Rochefort), suffering from cancer, is completing his final command. The title character, Willsdorf, played by Jacques Perrin and based on the famous French Navy officer Pierre Guillaume, had been their charismatic comrade in Vietnam but became alienated when he supported the military coup in Algeria. Willsdorf now commands a fishing vessel scheduled to rendezvous with the warship. The two naval officers relate their memories as they await a possible fraught meeting -- which never occurs.