Choice of Arms

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Choice of Arms (Le choix des armes) Original French Poster Country France Directed by Alain Corneau Release Date 1981 Language French Studio Antenne-2 Parafrance Films Sara Films Main Cast Character Actor Noel Durieux Yves Montand Mickey Gérard Depardieu Nicole Durieux Catherine Deneuve Commissair Bonnardot Michel Galabru Inspector Sarlat Gérard Lanvin Ricky Jean-Claude Dauphin Dany Richard Anconina Jean Christian Marquand Andre Jean-Claude Bouillaud Raymond Constantini Jean Rougerie

Choice of Arms (original title Le choix des armes) is a 1981 French crime movie directed by Alain Corneau and starring Yves Montand as a retired criminal Noel Durieux, Catherine Deneuve as Noel's wife Nicole and Gérard Depardieu as a young and aggressive criminal Mickey.

The following weapons were used in the film Choice of Arms:
WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Revolvers

Smith & Wesson Model 27

A Smith & Wesson Model 27 with 4" barrel is used by Sylvain Constantini (uncredited) during the ambush at Serge Olivier (Pierre Forget) and Mickey (Gérard Depardieu). Mickey takes Sylvain's revolver and uses it throughout the film.

Smith & Wesson Model 27 with 4" barrel - .357 Magnum

Mickey holds the revolver after the shootout.

Mickey in grapple with Commissair Bonnardot (Michel Galabru).

Mickey threatens Noel Durieux.

Mickey aims his revolver at Nicole Durieux (Catherine Deneuve).

Noel (Yves Montand) holds Mickey's revolver in the final scene.

Smith & Wesson Model 29

In one scene Jean (Christian Marquand) gives a Smith & Wesson Model 29 with 6" barrel to Noel Durieux (Yves Montand) who carries it until the final.

Smith & Wesson Model 29 - .44 Magnum. This is Clint Eastwood's actual screen used Model 29 in the movie The Dead Pool.

Smith & Wesson Model 29 is seen in the top row.

A close view.

Jean loads the revolver...

...and hands it to Noel.

Noel checks the revolver.

A close view of the revolver.

Colt Python

A Colt Python with 4" barrel is used by inspector Sarlat (Gérard Lanvin) after he looses his Browning Hi-Power. Python is also seen in hands of Andre (Jean-Claude Bouillaud) and in Jean's (Christian Marquand) armoury. Though according to the story these are different revolvers, all three seem to be the same movie prop.

Colt Python with 4" Barrel and factory wood grips - .357 Magnum

Sarlat holds a Python.

Andre stops a gang of hoodlums.

Sarlat carries his Python in belt holster.

Sarlat draws his revolver in the night scene.

A Colt Python is seen in the second row at the right.

Smith & Wesson Model 36

Three snub nose revolvers are seen in Jean's armoury. They seem to be Smith & Wesson Model 36s. Two of them have square butts and lack logo on the grip so they can be not genuine Model 36s but some clone of European origin.

Smith & Wesson Model 36 - .38 Special

Two snub nose revolvers are seen in the top row and one more in the bottom row.

A close view.

Snub nose revolver

In the final scene one of police inspectors is armed with a snub nose revolver that also can be a Smith & Wesson Model 36.

The man in the middle (in green jacket) holds a snub nose revolver.

Pistols

Walther PPK

A Walther PPK is used by Mickey (Gérard Depardieu) during the prison break. A PPK is also seen in Jean's armoury.

Early Waffenamt marked Walther PPK. Note the differences: orange bakelite grips, lanyard ring, smaller rear sight, grooved top, and irregular front - 7.65x17mm Auto (.32 ACP)

Mickey holds his pistol while his car is under fire.

He fires from the car window.

A PPK is seen in the middle row.

Colt Combat Commander

A Colt Combat Commander is used by Roland Davout (Etienne Chicot) during the ambush at Serge Olivier (Pierre Forget) and Mickey (Gérard Depardieu). Noel Durieux (Yves Montand) also uses a Colt Combat Commander until it is confiscated by police. A Colt Combat Commander is seen in Jean's (Christian Marquand) armoury. Though according to the story these are different pistols, all three seem to be the same movie prop.

Colt Combat Commander - .45 ACP

Roland Davout draws his pistol.

Roland Davout holds his pistol while trying to start his car. Note a good trigger discipline.

Noel Durieux's pistol, loaded magazine and a box of cartridges. While the magazine is loaded with .45s, the box contains .38 Sp cartridges.

Noel loads his pistol.

The pistol in Noel's car.

A close view of the pistol. The inscription "Combat Commander" is seen on the slide.

A Colt is seen among other firearms in Jean's armoury.

Browning Hi-Power

A Browning Hi-Power "Type 73" is carried by inspector Sarlat (Gérard Lanvin) until Mickey (Gérard Depardieu) disarms him. Mickey then uses Hi-Power during the bank robbery.

Browning Hi-Power "Type 73" - 9x19mm

Sarlat aims his pistol at Mickey.

Mickey loads the pistol.

Mickey holds Hi-Power during the bank robbery.

Unidentified pistol

Some pistol is seen in Jean's armoury.

A pistol in holster is seen among the ammo boxes.

Shotguns

Mossberg 500

A pump action shotgun with high-capacity magazine tube and wood furniture is seen in Jean's armoury. It seem to be a Mossberg 500. In the scene of bank robbery a security guard is armed with a pump action shotgun that also has a high-capacity magazine tube so it can be the same movie prop.

Mossberg 500 with wooden furniture and high-capacity magazine tube - 12 Gauge

A pump action shotgun is seen among other firearms in Jean's armoury.

A security guard with shotgun is seen at the left.

A high-capacity magazine tube can be seen.

Double barreled shotgun

A double barreled shotgun is seen in Jean's armoury.

A double barreled shotgun is seen among other firearms in Jean's armoury.

Submachine Guns

M1928A1 Thompson

An M1928A1 Thompson is seen in Jean's armoury.

M1928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine and early 'simplified' rear sight that would be adopted for the M1 Thompson - .45 ACP

A "Tommy Gun" is seen at the left.

Rifles

Bolt action sniper rifle

In the final scene two police detectives are armed with bolt action sniper rifles. A rifle with sniper scope is also seen in Jean's armoury.

A man at the right holds a sniper rifle. Next to him is commissair Bonnardot (Michel Galabru).

The same sniper aims his rifle.

Two men on both sides of a tree hold sniper rifles.

A rifle with scope is partially seen on the bottom.

M1 Carbine

An M1 Carbine is seen in Jean's armoury.

The Modern Manufactured version of the M1 Carbine, with standard stock, from Auto-Ordnance (affiliated with Kahr Arms and Thomson Arms) - .30 Carbine

An M1 Carbine is seen at the left.

M16A1

An M16A1 is seen in Jean's armoury.

M16A1 with 20 round magazine - 5.56x45mm

An M16A1 is seen between double barreled shotgun and pump action shotgun.

A close view of the front sight.

Other Weapons

Model 24 Stielhandgranate

A Model 24 Stielhandgranate is seen in Jean's armoury.

Model 24 Stielhandgranate "Potato Masher" high-explosive fragmentation hand grenade

A grenade is seen in the bottom.

X F1 hand grenade

A training X F1 hand grenade is seen in Jean's armoury.

French training grenade Grenade à main d'exercice GR MA X F1

A blue colored hand grenade is seen in the bottom.

Documentary Footage

In one scene Commissaire Bonnardot watches news on TV that shows unrest in some foreign country.

A kid holds AK-47.

M2HB heavy machine gun is mounted on the turret of the armoured car. A coaxial machine gun also can be seen.

A closer view of the M2HB.

One of the men behind the armoured car holds a gun that resembles Sten SMG.