I sure wish that Jean-Pierre Melville had lived longer and been more prolific during his career. In 27 years, he only wrote and directed 14 films--a very modest output indeed. Yet, despite this, he was responsible for some of the very best films of his era--BOB THE GAMBLER, THE FINGER MAN, THE SAMURAI, SECOND BREATH and this film, ARMY OF SHADOWS--among others. What they all have in common is a wonderful sense of understatement and restraint. In none of these films is there any unnecessary adornment, excess dialog or pretense. They are direct but also a bit muted--making them seem quite real. Because of this, it's understandable why he was so strongly associated with the French New Wave. However, his films really aren't like those of other New Wave directors--lacking the sentiment of Truffaut or Rohmer as well as the bizarreness (and pretentiousness) of Godard. For me, his is my favorite of these directors--making simple and darn good movies...period.
ARMY OF SHADOWS is a very simple story of a man who was one of those in charge of the French Underground during WWII. While it could have been glamorized, or "sexed up", instead it was done in a straight forward manner--and the film worked wonderfully. Lino Ventura was great as the leading man--ordinary looking yet also tough and weathered looking. He was very much in his element playing this role. And, aside from Simone Signoret (sort of like a French version of Honor Blackman), the rest of the actors also have an ordinariness about them that makes the film work well. All were excellent actors, but no matinée idols good looks among them. In particular, Paul Meurisse was a wonderful supporting actor as the man in charge, though his was a smaller role than Ventura's.
Simple, gritty and very deliberately paced, this film is simple yet terrific.
ARMY OF SHADOWS is a very simple story of a man who was one of those in charge of the French Underground during WWII. While it could have been glamorized, or "sexed up", instead it was done in a straight forward manner--and the film worked wonderfully. Lino Ventura was great as the leading man--ordinary looking yet also tough and weathered looking. He was very much in his element playing this role. And, aside from Simone Signoret (sort of like a French version of Honor Blackman), the rest of the actors also have an ordinariness about them that makes the film work well. All were excellent actors, but no matinée idols good looks among them. In particular, Paul Meurisse was a wonderful supporting actor as the man in charge, though his was a smaller role than Ventura's.
Simple, gritty and very deliberately paced, this film is simple yet terrific.