France, 1969
Director: Jean-Pierre Melville
Producer: Jacques Dorfmann
Cast: Lino Ventura, Simone Signoret, Paul Meurisse, Jean-Pierre Cassel
Screenwriter: Jean-Pierre Melville
Based on the novel Army of Shadows by Joseph Kessel
Cinematography: Pierre Lhomme
Music: Eric Demarsan
Genre: Drama, War
Color
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Language: French with English subtitles
Running Time: 145 minutes
Synopsis:
France, The Resistance: an escape from the Gestapo, so sudden and hairsbreadth as to leave the toughest of tough guys gasping with the icy sweat of terror and relief; two brothers remain unaware, to the end, of each other's clandestine activities; patriots, who, in relentless pursuit of traitors, must steel themselves to the most brutal of face-to-face violence. Gallic icon Lino Ventura (Elevator to the Gallows, Classe Tous Risques), aided by compatriots including maitresse of disguise Simone Signoret, goes underground in the face of the German Occupation — but heroism can come at a truly high price.
Awards and Recognition:
Best Foreign Film (New York Film Critics Circle, 2006)
Special Film Heritage Award (National Society of Film Critics Awards, 2007)
Special Citation (Los Angeles Film Critics Association, 2006)
Restoration:
Scanned in 4K from the original negative by Image Retrouvée, supervised by STUDIOCANAL's Sophie Boyer and Jean-Pierre Boiget. With the funding support of CNC.
