Overview
A surgeon's desperate attempt to protect his family unfolds against the backdrop of war-torn France.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- harrowing
- bleak
- tragic
- serious historical film night
- classic european cinema viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a powerful and emotionally devastating wartime revenge drama anchored by Philippe Noiret and Romy Schneider.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Julien Dandieu is an ordinary surgeon whose response to the German massacre becomes a focused campaign of personal vengeance.
The German occupation of southern France is experienced through Julien, Clara, and their daughter at a remote family castle.
The old castle and its chapel become the central spaces where family safety, massacre, and retaliation converge.
Julien’s work as a local surgeon sharply contrasts with his later use of violence against occupying soldiers.
Films like The Old Gun, and why
Army of Shadows
shared world war ii setting, occupation trauma, moral outrage, and revenge-driven drama
Come and See
shared wartime brutality, tragic family stakes, and emotionally devastating historical drama
A Woman Named Golda
shared rape and revenge framework, rural wartime setting, and bleak retaliatory violence
The Night of the Generals
shared french resistance-era atmosphere, personal vengeance, and grim historical thriller tension
Movie Details
- Director
- Robert Enrico
- Release Date
- 1975-08-20
- Runtime
- 103 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (300)
Cast
- Philippe Noiret
- Romy Schneider
- Jean Bouise
- Joachim Hansen
- Robert Hoffmann
- Karl Michael Vogler
- Caroline Bonhomme
- Catherine Delaporte
- Madeleine Ozeray
- Jean-Paul Cisife
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video
- Buy
- Amazon Video
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Old Gun about?
- A French surgeon’s desperate search for his family turns into a harrowing reckoning with Nazi occupation and personal vengeance.
- What is The Old Gun like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Old Gun as brisk, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Old Gun violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Old Gun as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Old Gun?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a powerful and emotionally devastating wartime revenge drama anchored by Philippe Noiret and Romy Schneider.
- Which films are like The Old Gun?
- Films with a similar feel include Army of Shadows, Come and See, A Woman Named Golda, and The Night of the Generals.
- How long is The Old Gun?
- The Old Gun runs 103 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Old Gun?
- In United States, The Old Gun is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video.
