Army of Shadows

Released Jun 19, 1970

2h 20m

War

History

Drama

List

97%

76 Reviews

Tomatometer

94%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

This adaptation of the book by Joseph Kessel paints an understated, unglamorous portrait of the French Resistance during World World II. Betrayed by an informant, Philippe Gerbier (Lino Ventura) finds himself trapped in a torturous Nazi prison camp. Though Gerbier escapes to rejoin the Resistance in occupied Marseilles, France, and exacts his revenge on the informant, he must continue a quiet, seemingly endless battle against the Nazis in an atmosphere of tension, paranoia and distrust.

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Critics Consensus

Originally made in 1969, this recently reissued classic is a masterful examination of the inner workings of the World War II resistance efforts.

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Danny Leigh

Financial Times

Watch it a hundred times and the dread, bad-dream opening sequence of Nazi troops swarming through the Arc de Triomphe might still leave you reeling...

Rated: 5/5

Apr 1, 2020

Full Review

Glenn Heath Jr.

Slant Magazine

"Jean-Pierre Melville cherishes paradox and free thinking," and both elements are on beautiful display in his masterpiece.

Jan 12, 2011

Full Review

Jeff Shannon

Seattle Times

As close to a masterpiece as any film you're likely to see this year.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 17, 2007

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Jean-Pierre Melville’s most ambitious works.

Sep 19, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Gaving fought in the Resistance, Melville understands such a state of mind more than any other filmmaker, which is why Army of Shadows emerges as a meditation more than a historical account.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 21, 2022

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Bleak and uncompromising.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 9, 2020

Full Review

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Nathan H

One gets the immediate sense that one is watching a masterpiece. The restoration is almost as much of a marvel as the film itself. Melville draws on his real-life experience to make the plot and characters layered, and everything just rings true. By the end, I want the movie to continue, but then the final text proves me wrong: I'm made happy that Melville knew where to stop. It's simply a masterwork of cinema, not just a landmark of French film history.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/18/24

Full Review

William L

Among political thrillers, Army of Shadows has led an unusual life. Released in the waning years of de Gaulle's influence and popularity, the film was largely denounced in France due to the political shakeups of the period, only to find international acclaim decades later as prints began to be released internationally. The unusual distribution history of Army of Shadows fits oddly well with its premise - the struggles of a French resistance group facing both internal sabotage and German persecution, with particular focus on the emotional sacrifice and cold indifference necessary in the pursuit of a larger good. Like his protagonists, Jean-Pierre Melville worked in pursuit of an end that promised no reward and invited suspicion and unease despite supporting a noble cause. The film is awash in an atmosphere of suspicion, as characters are forced into a practical prisoner's dillemma, weighing self-preservation against loyalty and knowing those around them are doing the same. While very much functional thematically, there may be some gripes in the execution; at times the endeavors of our protagonists lean more towards the fantastical and daring than the realistic and grounded (jail break during sadistic execution via smoke bomb seems more Great Escape than Melville noir). Despite those qualms, the sentiment of Army of Shadows still rings clearly, despondent and tragic though it may be. (4/5)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/03/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Filmmaking at its best. No gimmicks, no film tricks, just superb acting, straight forward story and a directing style that focus on keeping you interested in the movie from beginning to end.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Taut and dark but not as gripping as I was hoping from a resistance thriller.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a movie that will stay with me for a while, more than anything because of its exploration of the psychology of a small, very clandestine resistance movement.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

isaac m

Army Of Shadows is a French movie that talks about the French Resistance during the Second World War. I enjoy the performances, screenplay, direction and themes. I also like that they hadn't romanticized or change the historical events. Overall, Army Of Shadows is a good take of the French Resistance during WW2.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Jean-Pierre Melville

Director

Lino Ventura

Philippe Gerbier

Paul Meurisse

Luc Jardie

Jean-Pierre Cassel

Jean François Jardie

Paul Crauchet

Felix Lepercq

Claude Mann

Claude Ullmann dit "Le Masque"

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Synopsis

This adaptation of the book by Joseph Kessel paints an understated, unglamorous portrait of the French Resistance during World World II. Betrayed by an informant, Philippe Gerbier (Lino Ventura) finds himself trapped in a torturous Nazi prison camp. Though Gerbier escapes to rejoin the Resistance in occupied Marseilles, France, and exacts his revenge on the informant, he must continue a quiet, seemingly endless battle against the Nazis in an atmosphere of tension, paranoia and distrust.

Director: Jean-Pierre Melville
Screenwriter: Jean-Pierre Melville
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Les Films Corona, Fono Roma
Genre: War, History, Drama
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 19, 1970, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Aug 26, 2015
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 2, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.6K
Runtime: 2h 20m

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