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Army of Shadows poster

Army of Shadows (1969)

“Betrayal. Loyalty. Collaboration. Resistance.”

7.9/10 · 781 votes 2h 25m nr ThrillerDramaHistoryWar

#1 of 12 films from 1969 #73 of 2475 in thriller

Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville · Written by Joseph Kessel, Jean-Pierre Melville

▶ Trailer, images & where to stream

Overview

Betrayed by an informant, Philippe Gerbier 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.

Cast

Lino Venturaas Philippe Gerbier
Paul Meurisseas Luc Jardie
Jean-Pierre Casselas Jean-François Jardie
Simone Signoretas Mathilde
Claude Mannas Claude Ullman / Le Masque
Paul Crauchetas Félix Lepercq
Christian Barbieras Guillaume Vermesch / Le Bison
Alain Dekokas Legrain
Alain Liboltas Paul Dounat
Jean-Marie Robainas Baron de La Ferté-Talloires
Albert Michelas Gendarme
Georges Sellieras Colonel Jarret du Plessis
Marco Perrinas Octave Bonnafous
Hubert de Lapparentas Aubert

Facts

Release dateSeptember 10, 1969
Runtime145 min (2h 25m) — longer as the 1969 average of 116 min
GenresThriller, Drama, History, War
Original titleL'Armée des ombres
LanguageFR
Box office$906,133
IMDbtt0064040

More from Jean-Pierre Melville

Le SamouraïLe Samouraï1967 · ★ 7.8 · 1h 45m Le Cercle RougeLe Cercle Rouge1970 · ★ 7.6 · 2h 20m

If you liked Army of Shadows

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The Great EscapeThe Great Escape1963 · ★ 7.9 · 2h 53m Judgment at NurembergJudgment at Nuremberg1961 · ★ 8.0 · 3h 11m Barry LyndonBarry Lyndon1975 · ★ 8.0 · 3h 8m The Battle of AlgiersThe Battle of Algiers1966 · ★ 7.9 · 2h 2m All the President's MenAll the President's Men1976 · ★ 7.7 · 2h 18m The Longest DayThe Longest Day1962 · ★ 7.6 · 2h 58m PattonPatton1970 · ★ 7.4 · 2h 52m ZuluZulu1964 · ★ 7.4 · 2h 18m

Questions

How long is Army of Shadows?
Army of Shadows runs 145 minutes (2h 25m).
Is Army of Shadows worth watching?
TMDB users give it 7.9/10 across 781 votes, which places it #1 of 12 films released in 1969 in this index (top 100%) and #73 among 2475 thriller titles.
Who directed Army of Shadows?
Army of Shadows was directed by Jean-Pierre Melville. Other well-rated titles by the same director: Le Samouraï (1967), Le Cercle Rouge (1970).
Who stars in Army of Shadows?
Lino Ventura as Philippe Gerbier; Paul Meurisse as Luc Jardie; Jean-Pierre Cassel as Jean-François Jardie; Simone Signoret as Mathilde; Claude Mann as Claude Ullman / Le Masque; Paul Crauchet as Félix Lepercq.
What is Army of Shadows rated?
It carries a nr certification in its home market. Ratings differ by country.
Where can I watch the trailer for Army of Shadows?
Open the title in the MTDb app for trailers, images and streaming links: https://mv.peoplentools.com/titles/66419.

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Film data and images from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Ratings are TMDB user scores as of 2026-10-05.