Army of Shadows - The Criterion Collection (Blu-ray)

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.

• France
• 145 minutes
• Color
• 1.85:1
• French
• Spine #385
• 1969

BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

- New, restored high-definition digital transfer with DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
- Audio commentary featuring film historian Ginette Vincendeau
- Interviews with cinematographer Pierre 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 (2005), a short program on the director and his film
- Le journal de la Résistance (1944), a rare short documentary shot during the final days of German-occupied France
- Film restoration demonstration by Pierre Lhomme
- Theatrical trailers
- PLUS: Essays by critic Amy Taubin and historian Robert O. Paxton