The Old Gun (1975)
"Le vieux fusil" (original title)

In Montauban in 1944, Julien Dandieu in a surgeon in the local hospital. Frightened by the German army entering Montauban, he asks his friend Francois to drive his wife and his daughter in ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Enrico

Writers:

Robert Enrico, Pascal Jardin,

Stars:

Philippe Noiret, Romy Schneider, Jean Bouise

4 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Philippe Noiret	...	Julien Dandieu
Romy Schneider	...	Clara Dandieu
Jean Bouise	...	François
Joachim Hansen	...	L'officier S.S.
Robert Hoffmann	...	Le lieutenant
Karl Michael Vogler	...	Docteur Müller
Caroline Bonhomme	...	Florence Dandieu (8 years)
Catherine Delaporte	...	Florence Dandieu (13 years)
Madeleine Ozeray	...	Julien's Mother
Daniel Breton
Jean-Paul Cisife	...	Le chef milicien
Antoine Saint-John	...	German soldier killed in the kitchen
Maurice Bes
Bernard Bireaud
Jean Le Boulbar

Storyline

In Montauban in 1944, Julien Dandieu in a surgeon in the local hospital. Frightened by the German army entering Montauban, he asks his friend Francois to drive his wife and his daughter in the back country village where Julien has an old castle. One week later, Julien decided to meet then for the week end, but the Germans are already occupying the village.

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Plot Keywords:

doctor | world war two | rape | rape victim | french resistance | 

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Taglines:

Nobody ever dies. Not your wife. Not your child. Not as long as you can keep on loving...and killing.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller | War

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

France West Germany

Language:

French German

Release Date:

22 August 1975 (France)

Also Known As:

The Old Gun

Filming Locations:

Bruniquel, Tarn-et-Garonne, Midi-Pyrénées, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Productions Artistes Associés, Mercure Productions, TIT Filmproduktion GmbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Close to the end, when Julien burned the whole room together with the SS Officer, a crew member with fire extinguisher can be seen on the right side of the scene.

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Connections

Referenced in Man Bites Dog (1992)

User Reviews

The revenge of a man over evil...

A happy loving family lives peacefully through the war in provincial France until.... the irruption of a retreating SS division which brutally puts an end to the very idea of love, happiness and humanity.

The man (exceptional Philippe Noiret) witnesses the execution of his young daughter and the burning of his beloved wife (always remembered Romy Schneider). He opts for revenge and will, in cold blood send one by one to hell the animals who blindly murdered his life.

No pardon, no abandonment, only revenge and perhaps Justice. He does not have anything to loose... a theme already explored in Truffaut's "La marié était en noir" (the bride wore black).

"Le vieux fusil" is also a crude reminder of the consequences of war over civilian populations. This movie is, still today, a petrifying experience for those who know History.

In France it is almost a classic (good camera work and fantastic cast). I am surprised it did not find more viewers outside Europe, may be not "heroic" enough...