在这部托尼剧情片中,《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.
《托尼》：悲剧轮回。相信中的女人和现实中的女人不一样。《托尼》：真的克服戏剧性了吗？。对Jean Renoir来说是失败的。
