leplatypus For those who like the real France, this movie is a recommendation: it's not about Paris, fashion, artists or politicians but it's about provincial life, with old bricks, nature, simple life, historic furniture and lack of technology... I'm sure that today the locations are as old, as quiet as if time doesn't happen...The story is not that invented because my native land faced this same tragedy with the small town of Oradour: beastly, inhuman, bloody SS killed civilians, children, women, old people... I'm surprised to see that the tragedy comes so soon but for one time, all the flashbacks are pretty moving... The director is really inspired to involve the audience and honestly, Noiret has the part of his career while Romy is the usual shining / anxious wife...the DVD (without subtitles!!!) says that critics lament about the violence but it's another proof that those Parisian professionals have limited scope, skills and intelligence!!!

ma-cortes Strong War/drama set in France during WWII with marvelous main cast as Philippe Noiret and Romy Schneider . Montauban in 1944, Julien Dandieu (Philippe Noiret) is a doctor in the local hospital. Frightened by the Nazi army coming Montauban, and occupying the little town , he asks his partner Francois (Jean Bouise ) to led his spouse (Romy Schneider) and daughter in the back country villa where Julien owns an old mansion . Some days later, Julien decided to meet then for the weekend, but the Nazis are already taking the village and the castle . He turns into Revenger Angel when his family is attacked by furious Germans (Joachim Hansen , Robert Hoffman ) , as his wife is fired and daughter is shot. Then he stalks the Nazis and takes the law into his own hands, searching vengeance .This exciting film contains romantic elements , brooding drama ,suspense , intrigue, thrills and lots of violence. Noiret is top-notch in a fully-formed main role as grief-plagued surgeon becoming avenger and he displays efficiently his old rifle killing mercilessly nasties .It's certainly thrilling , though the morality may be questionable , even in this time, as the spectators were clearly on the Noiret-Julien's side . It has a complex pace by means flashbacks in which are narrated the lovely relationship between the amiable surgeon and the attractive Romy Schneider . Colorful cinematography by Becker , being correctly remastered . Enjoyable musical score including a sensible leitmotif is composed and conducted by Francois De Roubaix .The motion picture is stunningly written and directed by by Robert Enrico . He was a good professional who directed interesting films as ¨Jailsbird vacation¨ , ¨Rum Runners¨, ¨The wise guys¨ and his masterpiece ¨The adventurers¨ and of course ¨The old fusil¨ . Rating : 7,5 , better than average. The film will appeal to French cinema lovers

dbdumonteil I know a lot of people will disagree,but "le Vieux Fusil" is far from being Enrico's best .The "Dictionnaire des Films " gives no star to it,which is going a bit too far ,but is not thoroughly unjustified.Let's put it straight;Enrico's best are his early efforts :his masterful "Au coeur de la vie" ,the intense beauty of which no review will reveal,"La Belle Vie" ,a courageous plea against the Algerian war,and "les Aventuriers" a much more accessible work with Hustonian accents."Le Vieux Fusil" is admittedly a good movie;nevertheless a 7.9 rating -at my time of writing-is much more than it deserves.First part -although a fiction based on real facts dealing with the martyrs of the end of the Occupation - is the best:Romy Schneider's presence (the fact she was actually a German actress is not a problem) and the harrowing scene of her death are strong assets.But the second part could be described as "Rambo meets Louis Feuillade" .The hero singlehandedly does away with a whole German patrol who's housed in his castle full of two way mirrors,secret passages,oubliettes,etc.It looks like an old Feuillade serial circa 1915 .

amorim-3 One of the best "war" films from the french cinema. The cruelty and the feelings are perfectly depicted Unforgettable the scene where Philippe Noiret knows what happened to his wife and daughter. The developing of the action is not as usual since the good old days are not in the beginning of the movie, but in the middle via the projection of home movies by the German soldiers, who murdered the two women. The systematic battle between the doctor and several soldiers,in a crescendo of violence that takes place in a "huis clos" is an example of directing and editing. The finale is like a balloon that is out of gas, the climax was attained and one more the leading actor shows how not to act to show true feelings.