The Watchmaker of St. Paul
Michel Descombes is a watchmaker who lives in Lyon with his teenage son Bernard. When the police visit and inform him that Bernard has killed a man and is on the run with a girl, Michel realises that he knew far less about his son than he thought.
Where to watch The Watchmaker of St. Paul in United States
Can I watch The Watchmaker of St. Paul in United States? Yes — you can stream The Watchmaker of St. Paul in United States on Criterion Channel and Kanopy.
Criterion Channel
KanopyClick a service to open The Watchmaker of St. Paul there. Availability last verified on September 30, 2026.
Where is The Watchmaker of St. Paul streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Criterion Channel, Kanopy | — |
| Canada | Criterion Channel | Apple TV Store |
| Germany | Amazon Arthaus Channel, Arthaus+ Apple TV channel | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store |
| France | — | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Orange VOD |
| Spain | Filmin | — |
About The Watchmaker of St. Paul
The Watchmaker of St. Paul is a 1974 French-language thriller, drama and crime film directed by Bertrand Tavernier. The cast is led by Philippe Noiret, Jean Rochefort, Jacques Denis. It has a runtime of 1h 45m. Viewers rate it 6.9/10 across 100 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Criterion Channel, Kanopy.
The Watchmaker of St. Paul was produced by Lira Films and made in France. It was released on January 16, 1974.
- Director
- Bertrand Tavernier
- Writers
- Bertrand Tavernier, Jean Aurenche, Pierre Bost
- Release date
- January 16, 1974
- Original language
- French
- Status
- Released
- Country
- France
- Production
- Lira Films
The Watchmaker of St. Paul cast & crew
The Watchmaker of St. Paul was directed by Bertrand Tavernier and written by Bertrand Tavernier, Jean Aurenche, and Pierre Bost.
The cast features Philippe Noiret as Michel Descombes, Jean Rochefort as Commissioner Guilboud, Jacques Denis as Antoine, friend of Michel, Yves Afonso as Inspector Bricard, Julien Bertheau as Edouard, friend of Michel, and Jacques Hilling as Costes, journalist.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Philippe Sarde, cinematography is by Pierre-William Glenn, and it was produced by Raymond Danon.
Is The Watchmaker of St. Paul worth watching?
The Watchmaker of St. Paul holds an audience score of 6.9/10 from 121 ratings, a solidly received thriller films.
At 1h 45m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy thriller, drama, and crime, The Watchmaker of St. Paul is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Watchmaker of St. Paul
In United States, you can stream The Watchmaker of St. Paul on Criterion Channel and Kanopy. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of The Watchmaker of St. Paul
Philippe Noiret
Michel Descombes
Jean Rochefort
Commissioner Guilboud
Jacques Denis
Antoine, friend of Michel
Yves Afonso
Inspector Bricard
Julien Bertheau
Edouard, friend of Michel
Jacques Hilling
Costes, journalist
Clotilde Joano
Janine Boitard, journalist
Andrée Tainsy
Madeleine Fourmet
William Sabatier
Lawyer
Cécile Vassort
Martine, workwoman
Sylvain Rougerie
Bernard Descombes, Michel's son
Christine Pascal
Liliane Torrini, companion of Bernard
The Watchmaker of St. Paul — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Watchmaker of St. Paul in United States?
The Watchmaker of St. Paul is streaming on Criterion Channel, Kanopy in United States.
▸Is The Watchmaker of St. Paul on Criterion Channel?
Yes — The Watchmaker of St. Paul is currently available on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸What language is The Watchmaker of St. Paul in?
The Watchmaker of St. Paul is originally in French. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Watchmaker of St. Paul?
The Watchmaker of St. Paul runs 1 hours 45 minutes (105 minutes).
▸What is The Watchmaker of St. Paul rated?
It holds a 6.9/10 audience score from 121 ratings.
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