Choice of Arms (1981): cast, story & where to watch
1981 · Film · ★ 6.6
Released in 1981, Choice of Arms is a thriller, drama and crime film directed by Alain Corneau, running about 135 minutes. “Three People. Two Love Stories. One Choice.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Two men break out of prison; a rival gang ambushes them. One is mortally wounded and tells the other, Mickey, to take him to the estate of a retired robber, Noel, who lives in comfort with his lovely and beloved wife, Nicole. The man dies, and Mickey, a menacing hothead, demands money of Noel. A few days later, Mickey returns to the estate, shoots up a dinner party and threatens them again. Noel sends Nicole to an hotel and goes to his old gang to help him hunt down the dangerous Mickey. Mickey has other problems, too, including heartache for a daughter he hardly knows. Young, eager cops tail Nicole, and all are on a complicated collision course.
Who’s in it. Choice of Arms stars Yves Montand as Noel Durieux, Gérard Depardieu as Mickey, Catherine Deneuve as Nicole Durieux and Michel Galabru as Commissioner Bonnardot, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.6/10, Choice of Arms has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on France Channel Amazon Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Choice of Arms page.
If you liked it. Fans of Choice of Arms tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Choice of Arms (1981)?
- In US, Choice of Arms is available to stream on France Channel Amazon Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Choice of Arms worth watching?
- Choice of Arms holds an audience score of 6.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller, drama and crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Choice of Arms?
- Choice of Arms stars Yves Montand, Gérard Depardieu, Catherine Deneuve, Michel Galabru and Gérard Lanvin.
- When was Choice of Arms released?
- Choice of Arms was released in 1981, with a runtime of about 135 minutes.