Armée des ombres (l’)

English title: Army of Shadows

Genre: war drama

With: Lino Ventura (Philippe Gerbier), Paul Meurisse (Luc Jardie), Jean-Pierre Cassel (Jean-François Jardie), Simone Signoret (Mathilde), Claude Mann (Claude Ullmann a.k.a. ‟le Masque”), Paul Crauchet (Félix Lepercq), Christian Barbier (Guillaume Vermersch,  a.k.a. ‟le Bison”), Serge Reggiani (the Hairdresser), André Dewavrin (Colonel Passy), Alain Dekok (Legrain), Alain Mottet (the camp commander), Alain Libolt (Paul Dounat)

Director: Jean-Pierre Melville

Screenplay: Jean-Pierre Melville (adapting Joseph Kessel’s novel)

Release: 1969

Studio: Les Films Corona, Fono Roma

Rating: -

MBiS score: 8.8/10 

 

‟They need you on the outside.” 

 

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Story-line: October 1942. Philippe Gerbier, a civil engineer turned cell leader in the French Resistance, is taken to a detainment camp after his arrest by French police. Meeting Gerbier for the first time and going over his record, the camp commander is truly baffled: how should he treat this secretive prisoner… with a carrot, a stick or both? What follows is anyone’s guess but one thing’s for sure: Gerbier doesn’t plan on being a submissive detainee…

Pluses: superlative acting by Lino Ventura, Simone Signoret, Paul Meurisse and a great cast, perfect direction by a helmer who was himself a soldier and a resistant during the war, a tension-filled, one-of-a-kind screenplay full of weighty dialogues and grave events, superb cinematography, outstanding production values, a sparse, mesmerizing and breathtakingly beautiful musical score and a jolt of an ending.

Minuses: some silent scenes are noticeably long but, far from distracting viewers, they push the drama to an almost unbearable level.

Comments: I had preconceived notions about French resistants during the Occupation –  that they were mainly fighters and saboteurs – but the flawless ARMY OF SHADOWS reveals much, much more… a covert world of planning, spying, quick decisions and incredible danger that required total commitment from its agents and a bit of luck now and then. As a leader, Gerbier has learned to do things he had never imagined possible and has made huge sacrifices while realizing that he is missing out on the basic rewards of life. According to the IMDB website, when this masterwork was released for the first time in the United States – circa 2006 –, it was honoured by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the National Society of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics Circle. This, movie buffs, is a genuine seal of approval… and one more reason to catch this stupendous movie.   

 

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Lady from Shanghai (The)

Genre: film noir (fittingly in black and white)

With: Rita Hayworth (Elsa Bannister), Orson Welles (Michael O'Hara), Everett Sloane (Arthur Bannister), Glenn Anders (George Grisby), Ted de Corsia (Sidney Broome), Erskine Sanford (Judge), Gus Schilling (Goldie)

Director: Orson Welles

Screenplay: Orson Welles (based on a story and novel by Sherwood King), with help from William Castle, Charles Lederer and Fletcher Markle

Release: 1947

Studio: Mercury Productions, Columbia Pictures Corporation

Rating: -

MBiS score: 8.5/10 

 

Cruisin’ for a bruisin’ 

 

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Story-line: one night in New York City, Michael O’Hara, an Irish sailor, sees a very attractive woman enjoying the sights and chats with her for a moment or two. Later, he finds her being attacked by ruffians in Central Park and manages to rescue her. They chat some more and discover that they share an adventurous spirit. As you can guess, they will meet again in a more romantic setting – a yacht circling North America – but in the presence of her husband and a couple of annoying fellas.

Pluses: stellar acting by Rita Hayworth (a voluptuous, intelligent Elsa), Orson Welles (a daring Michael), Everett Sloane and Glenn Anders, efficient direction, a complex and perverse screenplay full of twists, turns, cynicism and snappy dialogues, appropriate production values, excellent cinematography, a helpful musical score that heightens the drama and a riveting 18-minute denouement.

Minuses: the screenplay confused me somewhat but it made sense once I took the time to figure it out. On screen, Rita and Orson make a dynamite couple but it is worth noting that they were facing each other in divorce proceedings when this movie was shot. 

Comments: LADY FROM SHANGHAI isn’t called a film noir for nothing. It offers everything you could wish for in a crime thriller: burning passion, mysterious characters, a tricky story that keeps you guessing and a memorable ending to boot. As Michael would say when asked about his tastes in liquor, ‟Doesn't have to be wholesome... just as long as it's strong.”

 

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