CHOICE OF ARMS

CHOICE OF ARMS is director Alain Corneau's fifth feature, the most costly and the most commercially successful “policier” (police thriller) made in France. Corneau's specialty is the “policier,” having been inspired by such masters as Jacques Becker and Jean-Pierre Melville, as well as American gangster movies of the '40s and '50s. The script was co-written by detective novelist Michel Grisolia especially for Yves Montand and Gerard Depardieu, marking Montand's third starring appearance for Corneau. As assistant director to Costa-Gavras, Corneau also worked with Montand in “The Confession” (1970). CHOICE OF ARMS goes beyond the cops and robbers action to characterize the dramatic conflict between the older and younger generations on both sides of the law. Mickey (Depardieu) is a young thug who breaks out of prison and hides out on the outskirts of Paris at Noel's (Montand) stud-farm. Noel, retired from the underworld, has found happiness with his wife Nicole (Catherine Deneuve) and looks forward to their future life in Ireland. The meeting between the two men causes a violent reaction and misunderstanding leading to tragedy. Paralleling these opposing forces, a subplot depicts the clash between the older and younger policemen on the case. A top cast is complemented by well-paced action shots and a mellow jazz score recorded in Dolby sound.