| Notes | Criterion collection Blu-ray edition
This masterpiece by Jean-Pierre Melville about the French Resistance went unreleased in the United States for thirty-seven years, until its triumphant theatrical debut in 2006. Atmospheric and gripping, Army of Shadows is Melville’s most personal film, featuring Lino Ventura, Paul Meurisse, Jean-Pierre Cassel, and the incomparable Simone Signoret as intrepid underground fighters who must grapple with their conception of honor in their battle against Hitler’s regime.
High-definition digital transfer of the 2004 restoration, supervised by director of photography Pierre Lhomme, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition
Optional Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 soundtrack (DVD edition); optional DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack (Blu-ray edition)
Audio commentary featuring film historian Ginette Vincendeau
Interviews with Lhomme and editor Françoise Bonnot
On-set footage and excerpts from archival interviews with director Jean-Pierre Melville, cast members, writer Joseph Kessel, and real-life Resistance fighters
Jean-Pierre Melville et “L’armée des ombres” (2002), a short program on the director and his film
Le journal de la Résistance (1944), a rare short documentary shot on the front lines during the final days of German-occupied France
Film restoration demonstration by Lhomme
Theatrical trailers
New English subtitle translation
PLUS: A booklet featuring new essays by critic Amy Taubin and historian Robert O. Paxton, as well as excerpts from Rui Nogueira’s Melville on Melville
New cover by Michael Boland |
