An Officer and a Spy
J'Accuse

Original French Poster

Country	France Italy
Directed by	Roman Polanski
Release Date	2019
Language	French
Studio	Legende Films R.P. Productions Gaumont
Distributor	Gaumont

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Colonel Georges Picquart	Jean Dujardin
Captain Alfred Dreyfus	Louis Garrel
Pauline Monnier	Emmanuelle Seigner
Commandant (Lt. Col.) Hubert-Joseph Henry	Grégory Gadebois
Gen. Charles-Arthur Gonse	Hervé Pierre
Gen. Auguste Mercier	Wladimir Yordanoff
Fernand Labori	Melvil Poupaud
Maj. Ferdinand Walsin Esterhazy	Laurent Natrella
Émile Zola	André Marcon

An Officer and a Spy (J'Accuse) is a 2019 French-Italian historical drama film directed by Roman Polanski about the infamous Dreyfus Affair. The film is based on the 2013 novel of the same name by Robert Harris. The title J'Accuse is a reference to Émile Zola's 1898 newspaper article about the affair.

In 1894, Captain Alfred Dreyfus (Louis Garrel), an artillery officer in the French Army of Jewish descent, is baselessly accused of leaking classified information to the German Empire. Despite little tangible evidence of this crime existing, Dreyfus is nonetheless charged with treason and sentenced to life in prison. His accusers think this will be the end of the matter, until intelligence officer Colonel Georges Picquart (Jean Dujardin) opens his own investigation- thus beginning a years-long odyssey to prove Dreyfus innocent. The divisive events that follow will prove to have far-reaching consequences into 20th century and beyond.

The film received numerous cinema awards, including the Grand Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Prize of the 76th Venice International Film Festival, and three 45th Cesar Awards.

The following weapons were used in the film An Officer and a Spy (J'Accuse):

Revolvers

Chamelot-Delvigne Mle 1873

Maj. Du Paty de Clam (Michel Vuillermoz) holds a Chamelot-Delvigne Model 1873 revolver during the flashback scene.

Chamelot-Delvigne Mle 1873 (factory bare finish) - 11x17.8mmR. Unlike this sample, the screen gun is blued.

The revolver is seen on Maj. Du Paty de Clam's desk when he prepares for the arrest of Captain Alfred Dreyfus.

A perfect view of the revolver.

The revolver is seen on a promotional image.

Saint-Etienne Mle 1892

Colonel Georges Picquart (Jean Dujardin) is seen with a Saint-Etienne Mle 1892 revolver in several scenes.

Saint-Etienne Mle 1892 - 8x27mm SR

Colonel Picquart takes the revolver from his suitcase when he hears someone knocking on the door of his apartment.

Another view of the same scene.

A gendarme holds the revolver, surrendered by Picquart upon his arrest.

Picquart, discharged from the army, puts holsters the revolver.

Unidentified revolver

An unknown person who commits an assassination attempt on attorney Fernand Labori is armed with a revolver that is seen very briefly and unclear. It is possibly some top-break model.

The revolver is seen in the hands of the assailant in the distance.

The revolver is seen when the assailant runs away.

Rifles

Lebel Mle 1886 M93

French soldiers and gendarmes carry Lebel Mle 1886 M93 rifles in several scenes.

Lebel Model 1886 - 8x50mmR Lebel

Soldiers with Lebel rifles stand in formation during the cashiering of Alfred Dreyfus.

Gendarmes at the entrance of the courthouse hold Lebel rifles.

Gendarmes with Lebel rifles in the courthouse.

Soldiers on guard hold Lebel rifles. The distinctive Mle 1886 "Rosalie" bayonets are seen.

Lebel rifles in the hands of gendarmes are seen on a set photo. Roman Polanski himself is in center.

Another photo from the set.

Berthier Mle 1892 Artillery Carbine

Gendarmes and prison guards carry Berthier Mle 1892 Artillery Carbines.

Berthier Mle 1892 Artillery Carbine - 8x50mm R

A prison guard on Devil's Island carries an Mle 1892 carbine.

Another view of the prison guard's carbine. The buttstock is seen.

Gendarmes with Mle 1892 carbines at the entrance of the courthouse during the trial of Zola. They also carry holsters for Mle 1892 revolvers and correct Mle 1892 bayonets for the Berthier Mle 1892 carbines.

Another view of the same scene.

Berthier Mle 1916 Carbine

At least one gendarme in the courthouse is armed with an anachronistic Berthier Mle 1916 Carbine.

Berthier Mle 1916 Carabine - 8x50mm R

A gendarme holds an Mle 1916 carbine. The protruding magazine can be seen. The other carbines seem to be Mle 1892s.

Trivia

Canon de 75 Mle 1897 Field Gun

A famous French Canon de 75 Mle 1897 field gun, at that time a top secret weapon, is seen during a demonstration shooting. The principle features of this artillery piece are correctly described in this scene. The leakage of the gun's technical information to the German Empire is what spurs the French Army to search for a spy, beginning the affair itself.