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Crime & Justice • Organized Crime

Monica la Mitraille

Monica la Mitraille was the French nickname of Monica Proietti, a Montreal bank robber and folk figure active in the 1960s.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Monica la Mitraille was the French nickname of Monica Proietti, a Montreal bank robber and folk figure active in the 1960s. She became known for a series of bank robberies in Quebec and died in 1967 after a high-speed police chase in Montreal.

Biography

Monica Proietti was born in Montreal in 1940 and became known in French-language media as Monica la Mitraille. Sources describe her as a bank robber associated with Montreal’s criminal underworld and as a folk figure in Quebec.

Criminal activity

She was linked to a number of bank robberies in the 1960s, with some sources describing her as having taken part in or helped organize at least 15 to 20 robberies. Her notoriety made her one of the best-known female criminals in Quebec.

Death

Proietti died on September 19, 1967, after a high-speed police chase in Montreal. Sources say she was shot by police following the chase and collision involving her vehicle.

Cultural portrayal

Her story was adapted into the 2004 film *Machine Gun Molly* (*Monica la mitraille*), directed by Pierre Houle. The film presents a dramatized version of her life and stars Céline Bonnier in the lead role.

Key facts

  • Monica la Mitraille was the French-language nickname of Monica Proietti, a Montreal bank robber.
  • She was active in the 1960s and was linked to multiple bank robberies in Quebec.
  • She became a local criminal folk figure in Montreal.
  • She died in 1967 after a police chase and shooting in Montreal.
  • Her life inspired the 2004 Canadian film *Machine Gun Molly* (*Monica la mitraille*).
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Canadian context

Monica Proietti’s story is part of Montreal and Quebec crime history, and her life inspired a Canadian feature film.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Monica la Mitraille?
Monica la Mitraille is the nickname of Monica Proietti, a Montreal bank robber who became a Quebec criminal folk figure in the 1960s.
What did Monica la Mitraille do?
She was associated with a series of bank robberies in Quebec and became known as one of the most famous female criminals in Montreal’s history.
How did Monica la Mitraille die?
She died in 1967 after a high-speed police chase in Montreal, when police shot her following the pursuit.
Is Monica la Mitraille a true story?
Yes. The character is based on the real-life Monica Proietti, although later books and films dramatized parts of her story.
Monica la Mitraille movie?
Yes. The 2004 Canadian crime drama *Machine Gun Molly* was released in French as *Monica la mitraille* and is based on her life.
Who played Monica la Mitraille?
Céline Bonnier played the lead role in the 2004 film, portraying the character Monica Sparvieri.

References

  1. Wikipédia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monica_Proietti
    Supports: French-language overview identifying Monica Proietti as Monica la Mitraille and describing her death.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monica_Proietti
    Supports: English overview with birth and death dates, identity as a Canadian bank robber, and death details.
  3. Télé-Québec — https://presse.telequebec.tv/nos-contenus/630/monica-la-mitraille/
    Supports: Synopsis of the film, biographical background, and casting including Céline Bonnier.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0385878/
    Supports: Film identification as *Machine Gun Molly* / *Monica la mitraille* and basis on Monica Proietti's true story.
  5. Voir — https://voir.ca/cinema/2004/04/21/monica-la-mitraille-autopsie-dun-mythe/
    Supports: Film background, character naming, and dramatized retelling of Monica Proietti's life.