《托尼》的故事改编自四名意大利移民在法国南部小镇当矿工的故事,线索由当地的警察局长提供,而后经过让?雷诺阿和一个朋友的加工共同编写成了电影剧本。影片讲述了一宗因爱生恨的谋杀案,整个故事结构仿佛多米诺骨牌,嫉妒是推动其滚动的动力,一环扣一环,最后水到渠成。虽然故事本身没有太大的新意,但是导演雷诺阿从关注小人物的真实内心世界的角度出发,展示了贫民在性格上的局限性和狭隘性,探讨了最终导致悲剧发生的整个过程及其根源。影片采用实景拍摄,由当地居民担任群众演员,遂将一个简单的故事讲得自然生动,这对后来的意大利新现实主义运动具有一定的影响。In the 1920s, the Provence is a magnet for immigrants seeking work in the quarries or in agriculture. Many mingle with locals and settle down permanently - like Toni, an Italian who has moved in with Marie, a Frenchwoman. Even a well-ordered existence is not immune from boredom, friendship, love, or enmity, and Toni gets entangled in a web of increasingly passionate relationships. For there is his best pal Fernand, but also Albert, his overbearing foreman; there is Sebastian, a steady Spanish peasant, but also Gabi, his young rogue relative; there is Marie, but there is also Josefa.