ARMY IN THE SHADOWS (UK)
aka ARMY OF SHADOWS (USA)
aka L'ARMEE DES OMBRES

Year: 1969
USA: Rialto Pictures
UK: BFI (UK Wide)
Cast: Lino Ventura, Paul Meurisse, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Simone Signoret, Claude Mann, Paul Crauchet, Christian Barbier, Serge Reggiani, Serge Reggiani, Andre Dewavrin, Alain Dekok, Alain Mottet, Alain Libolt, Jean-Marie Robain, Albert Michel, Denis Sadier, Georges Sellie, Marco Perrin, Hubert de Lapparent, Colin Mann, Anthony Stuart, Michel Fretault, Gerard Huart, Percival Russel, Michel Dacquin, Jeanne Perez, Pierre Vaudier, Jacques Marbeuf, Franz Sauer
Director: Jean-Pierre Melville
Countries: France / Italy
Language: French (English subtitles)
UK: 145 mins
UK Certificate: 12A contains moderate violence and emotional intensity
USA Release Date: 12 May 2006 (Limited Release - Los Angeles)
USA Release Date: 28 April 2006 (Limited Release - New York)
UK Release Date: 17 March 2006 (Limited Re-release - London)
UK Distributor

Synopsis

One of the greatest and most gripping film portrayals of the French Resistance, ARMY IN THE SHADOWS (L'ARMeE DES OMBRES) chronicles the lives of a group of Resistance fighters, depicting their furtive strategies to outwit not only the occupying Nazis but also - and most dangerously - the traitors in their own camp.

Director Jean-Pierre Melville's mastery of suspense is strongly in evidence, as is his preoccupation with questions of honour and courage, trust and betrayal.

Lino Ventura plays Philippe Gerbier, the intense, terse leader of the Resistance fighters, supported by Simone Signoret as Mathilde, a woman who confronts fear with extraordinary courage. Based on Joseph Kessel's popular wartime novel, ARMY IN THE SHADOWS is a tense thriller.