Choice of Arms (1981)

Two men break out of prison; a rival gang ambushes them. One is mortally wounded and tells the other, Mickey, to take him to the estate of a retired robber, Noel, who lives in comfort with ... See full summary »

Director:

Alain Corneau

Writers:

Alain Corneau, Michel Grisolia

Stars:

Yves Montand, Gérard Depardieu, Catherine Deneuve

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Yves Montand	...	Noel Durieux
Gérard Depardieu	...	Mickey
Catherine Deneuve	...	Nicole Durieux
Michel Galabru	...	Bonnardot
Gérard Lanvin	...	Sarlat
Jean-Claude Dauphin	...	Ricky
Jean Rougerie	...	Raymond Constantini
Christian Marquand	...	Jean
Etienne Chicot	...	Roland Davout
Richard Anconina	...	Dany
Pierre Forget	...	Serge Olivier
Roland Blanche	...	Fernand
Marc Chapiteau	...	Savin
Jean-Claude Bouillaud	...	Andre
Antoine Baud

Storyline

Two men break out of prison; a rival gang ambushes them. One is mortally wounded and tells the other, Mickey, to take him to the estate of a retired robber, Noel, who lives in comfort with his lovely and beloved wife, Nicole. The man dies, and Mickey, a menacing hothead, demands money of Noel. A few days later, Mickey returns to the estate, shoots up a dinner party and threatens them again. Noel sends Nicole to an hotel and goes to his old gang to help him hunt down the dangerous Mickey. Mickey has other problems, too, including heartache for a daughter he hardly knows. Young, eager cops tail Nicole, and all are on a complicated collision course.

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Plot Keywords:

dead wife | death of wife | robbery gone awry | drug addict | gunshot wound | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Girare Le choix des armes (2007)

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Soundtracks

Si ...
(uncredited)
Written by Jeffrey Star (as Carole J. Ellis), Claude Morgan and Umberto Petrucci (as H. Goldera), adapted by Didier Barbelivien, arranged by Jean-Claude Petit
Sung by Karen Chéryl

User Reviews

Overlong but fascinating

With Melville's death, Tavernier and Corneau became the masters of French film noir, but the latter has the dreamlike mood that the genre really needs to be effective. Le choix des armes has many effective scenes (usually involving either Depardieu or Lanvin) but sometimes leaves us cold. There is a little too much exposition in the storytelling--why show us Montand and his buddy smashing up the gang lord's opulent house when there is no dramatic effect to be gained? Or the elaborate four-way car pursuit (did the budget allow for all those stunt-drivers, so Corneau thought Why not?).

The acting is mostly exceptional. The young Gérard Lanvin gives us a very frustrated young detective, Michel Galabru is his burnt-out superior, Richard Anconina plays a man trying to settle down to happy domesticity and failing, and Depardieu is simply great as Mickey le dingue, crazy and moving at the same time. The woman who plays Dany's wife with burning resentment takes over every scene she's in.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French English

Release Date:

19 August 1981 (France)

Also Known As:

Choice of Arms

Filming Locations:

La Courneuve, Seine-Saint-Denis, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

France 2 (FR2), Parafrance Films, Sara Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1