Shop top categories that ship internationally
To share your reaction on this item, open the Amazon app from the App Store or Google Play on your phone.
See All Buying Options
Added to

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.

La Bandera [DVD]

Annabella (Actor), Jean Gabin (Actor), Julien Duvivier (Director, Writer) Rated:
NR
Format: DVD
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 57 ratings
IMDb6.9/10.0
Additional DVD options Edition Discs
Price
New from Used from
DVD —
1
$32.73
$17.62 $37.66
DVD —
1
—
— $39.99
DVD
March 26, 2013 		—
1
—
— $84.56
Watch Instantly with Rent Buy
la bandera — —
Format DVD, Black & White
Contributor Charles Granval, Pierre Renoir, Jes�s Castro Blanco, Charles Spaak, Gaston Modot, Raymond Aimos, Margo Lion, Robert Ozanne, Robert Le Vigan, Viviane Romance, Reine Paulet, Pierre Dumarchais, Annabella, Julien Duvivier, Jean Gabin See more
Language French
Runtime 1 hour and 28 minutes
Color Black & White

Similar items that may deliver to you quickly

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous set of slides
  1. Melinda (1972)
    Hugh A. Robertson
     
    DVD
    $21.57
    $11.46 shipping
    Only 12 left in stock - order soon.
  2. Svengali [DVD]
    Various
     
    DVD
    $9.99
    Only 1 left in stock (more on the way).
  3. The Blue Dahlia
    Alan Ladd
     
    DVD
    $19.99
    Get it as soon as Tuesday, Feb 18
    $11.41 shipping
    Only 6 left in stock - order soon.
  4. Scaramouche (1952)
    Stewart Granger
     
    DVD
    $14.99
    Get it as soon as Tuesday, Feb 18
    $11.54 shipping
    Only 15 left in stock - order soon.
  5. Blood on the Sun [DVD]
    James Cagney
     
    DVD
    $19.98
    Get it as soon as Wednesday, Feb 19
    $11.46 shipping
    Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
  6. Stella [DVD]
    Melina Mercouri
     
    DVD
    $29.68
    Get it as soon as Tuesday, Feb 18
    $11.55 shipping
    Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Next set of slides

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.33:1
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.1 x 5.42 x 0.58 inches; 2.93 ounces
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Julien Duvivier
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ DVD, Black & White
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 28 minutes
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Annabella, Jean Gabin, Robert Le Vigan, Raymond Aimos, Pierre Renoir
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ VANGUARD CINEMA
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000087F0R
  • Writers ‏ : ‎ Charles Spaak, Julien Duvivier, Pierre Dumarchais
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 57 ratings

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
57 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Stephanie De Pue Murphy
    3.0 out of 5 stars May Be Worth Seeing as an Early Foreign Legion Romance
    Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2011
    "La Bandera," ("The Regiment"), 1935, is, in its 96 minutes, an odd, little-known adornment of French cinema. It's a black and white war picture/drama/romance/men's adventure film that brings together the great French actor Jean Gabin (Le Quai des Brumes (Port of Shadows); La Bete Humaine (The Criterion Collection);Essential Art House: Le Jour se Lève), and the director Julien Duvivier at the outset of their careers, shortly before they made the greatly admired and influential Pepe Le Moko (The Criterion Collection) together in 1937. Apparently, at this time in the 1930s, the French were newly fascinated by their African colonies and the exoticism thereof; at any rate, both LA BANDERA and PEPE were largely set and filmed in the French colonies of North Africa, and many critics consider the first picture a dress rehearsal for the latter. Duvivier is considered one of the big five of the classic French film directors, though he is largely neglected today; still, he is an honored maker of world-class cinema. LA BANDERA is based on the novel by Pierre Dumarchais.

    Gabin plays Pierre Gilieth, a Parisian murderer. He flees to Barcelona, Spain, where he's robbed by some Frenchmen he meets in a nightclub. He's penniless, can't pay his rent nor eat, so he joins the Spanish Foreign Legion for a cot and three hots. Gilieth meets two more Frenchmen there in the barracks, Marcel Mulot, played by Raymond Aimos; and Fernando Lucas (played by Robert Le Vigan), who befriend him. But Gilieth soon becomes suspicious of Lucas, who seems entirely too curious about him. So Gilieth and Lucas become enemies. The regiment is sent to North Africa, the parched deserts of Southern Morocco, to fight the Rieff, who are in revolt against their Spanish masters. Gilieth and his chums begin to frequent a brothel, where he meets, falls in love with, and marries an absurdly over made-up Arabian dancing girl, Aischa la Slaoui, played by the actress Annabella,(13 Rue Madeleine), a stunning French actress who was married to Tyrone Power. Pierre Renoir (Children of Paradise (Les Enfants du paradis)), son of the world-famous French impressionist painter Pierre-August Renoir, plays the regiment's commanding officer, le capitaine Weller, who lacks an eye and an arm. Gaston Modot turns in a calorie-rich supporting performance as Le legionnaire Muller.

    In an example of location filming that was unusual for a French movie at the time, this adventure movie was made using actual Spanish legion troops at various cities and forts in mainland Spain, and in North Africa. Gabin turns in a sturdy performance, giving hints of the sexy, roguish charm that would characterize his later roles; both he and Duvivier show flashes of their brilliance to come in PEPE. The picture certainly illustrates the beginnings of the poetic realist movement that was to dominate French cinema.

    This film was originally dedicated to the Spanish General Francisco Franco, a fascist who rose in revolt against the democratically elected government of that country, and defeated it, in the Spanish Civil War that broke out just after the picture's release. The Spanish Foreign Legion was, in reality, Franco's shock troops; they were the power base that he used wherever needed. This dedication was removed after the Spanish Civil War, but its existence probably goes a long way toward explaining the film's fall into obscurity. LA BANDERA may deserve its neglect, but it may be worth seeing as an early foreign legion romance, and a precursor of great things to come from its star and director.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Andrew Mendelssohn
    3.0 out of 5 stars Duvivier and Gabin, not quite at the level of Pepe le Moko!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2003
    La Bandera is an earlier pairing of actor Jean Gabin and director Julien Duvivier prior to their much-imitated classic, Pepe le Moko. In La Bandera, both Duvivier and Gabin show flashes of their later brilliance in Pepe, but never quite hit the same level.
    Bandera tells the story of Pierre Gilieth (Gabin). The film opens with Gilieth killing a man in Paris. The scene quickly shifts to a cheap boarding house in Barcelona, where Gilieth is hiding from the law... He is robbed one night and joins the Spanish Foreign Legion just to eat. His Legion unit is stationed in North Africa, and this is where the film shines. The African scenes were all filmed on location at actual Spanish Foreign Legion forts and towns. Locals and tribesmen are constantly sniping at the soldiers, but Duvivier makes these seem larger than life by never actually showing them. You never see the enemy in any of the combat sequences, and somehow this makes them seem more threatening.
    Once in Africa, Gilieth and his mates start to frequent a brothel and Gilieth falls in love and marries a local girl. He also develops a conflict with another soldier, who may or may not be a real threat to him...
    If you see the amazon.com trivia section, you'll notice that this film was originally dedicated to Spanish General Franco, and that this was removed after the Spanish Civil War. Its interesting as this film had to be made just prior to the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, and in fact uses scenes of real Spanish Legion soldiers. These soldiers were in fact Franco's shock troops of the civil war and his real power base both prior to the conflict and during it. I suppose its nothing more than historical trivia, but in a way it accounts for the way La Bandera has been generally forgotten. I know this film has also been compared (a little unfavorably) with Beau Geste, but I suspect the way it glorifies the Spanish Legion just prior to the Spanish Civil war and the Legion's role in the fascist victory accounts for the film's relative obscurity...
    Regarding the dvd, I'm a bit disappointed. The film is watchable, for sure, but the transfer is nowhere near the quality of something Criterion or Kino would produce. There is plenty of dirt and noise, and the print itself is quite soft (usually indicating a bad attempt at cleaning it). The soundtrack has plenty of noise and hiss, and is obviously untouched. Compared to some recent Criterion releases from similar dates that look like they were produced yesterday, the La Bandera transfer is a disappointment. Perhaps worse, the English subtitles are not great, and are non-removable, so even if you can understand the French you are stuck watching the film with bad subtitles.
    In any case, La Bandera is a pleasant diversion for anybody who enjoys older adventure films or early French cinema. It provides a chance to see two famous stars, director Duvivier and actor Jean Gabin before they completely hit their stride, and yet the result is sill entertaining and energetic. Gabin in particular really shows flashes of his later charm! You won't be disappointed!
    14 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • diogène 2022
    5.0 out of 5 stars gabin dans toute sa jeunesse , la légion de franco eh oui! Mélodrame étincelant!
    Reviewed in France on July 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    vu dans ma toute jeunesse , je voulais revoir ce chef d'oeuvre inoubliable!
    Report
  • Nestor Valcarcel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Todo perfecto
    Reviewed in Spain on September 15, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Todo perfecto
    Report
  • Mr. Geoffrey H. Thorne
    3.0 out of 5 stars Early Jean Gabin and Duvivier film
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 21, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    All that can be said about the content of the film has been said already. Gabin and Le Vigan remain extremely watchable, as ever, and it certainly is very interesting simply to have a chance to see a relatively young (pre-fame) Jean Gabin. This was the film that made him a star in France (it is probably better to describe him as "THE Star"), as, despite the considerable presences of Louis Jouvet,Charles Boyer, Pierre Fresnay and Jules Berry on the screen as contemporaries, it is Gabin who is most remembered during his lengthy career, and for very good reasons. Quite simply, he is totally believable in his parts, no matter how unsympathetic they seem at first. He has an immense charm and strength in his acting which makes you interested in everything that he does.

    Annabella is interesting. She is extremely attractive, even under the heavy Arab make-up here. I have only seen her in one other film; "Hotel du Nord", where she is very good, but totally overwhelmed by the presence of Arletty and the aforesaid Louis Jouvet. She has a thankless task here, but certainly makes the final scene memorable.

    It is certainly a film worth seeing, but cannot be compared, in any way, with Duvivier's later films. The final attack by the Spanish Foreign Legion is, however, very well staged and will appeal to military historians.

    Incidentally,I was pleased to see that one other reviewer translates the title as "The Regiment". The point is that the Spanish Foreign Legion is divided into Tercios (or Regiments), with those units sub-divided into "Banderas" (or Battalions). "Bandera", unfortunately also means "Flag" or "Standard", and, so, whilst "The Flag" could be one UK/USA title for the film, I cannot help thinking that the true meaning relates to the unit and not its standard.
    Report
  • STEPHAN Rémy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Le mythe Gabin est en marche
    Reviewed in France on January 25, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    Premier film important dans la mythologie de Jean Gabin. "La bandera" (1935) s' inscrit aussi dans la mythologie des films sur la légion comme "Morocco" (1930) ou "Le grand jeu" (1933). Cette histoire, tirée d' un roman de Mac Orlan, est un merveilleux support pour l' acteur qui incarne un de ses rôles récurrents d' avant-guerre, celui d' un meurtrier.

    Après un homicide donc, Jean Gabin se réfugie à Barcelone. Après quelques péripéties, où on reconnaît furtivement Viviane Romance, il s' engage pour se remplir le ventre dans la légion espagnole. Il y rencontre le titi parisien Aimos et le visage illuminé et stupéfiant de Robert Le Vigan, qui est en fait un policier attiré par la prime promise par la famille de la victime. Son capitaine, dur mais juste, est l' excellent Pierre Renoir. Gabin croise aussi Annabella qui incarne la danseuse Aïcha la Slaoui. Un tel patronyme ne s' invente pas ! Il a dû exister !

    Ce qui frappe dans ce film, c' est la mobilité et le dynamisme de la mise en scène de Duvivier. Dans les rues de Barcelone. Dans l' affrontement verbal avec le propriétaire de la chambre minable qu' il doit quitter. Dans cette bagarre générale entre légionnaires où la caméra est portée à l' épaule. Dans l' espace fermé de la casemate à la fin du film. Duvivier était un inventeur formel de premier ordre. C' est certainement pour cela que toutes ses œuvres étaient diffusées aux États unis.

    Le film est très bien restauré. Le DVD a des sous-titres pour malentendants, un format de 4/3. Il est en noir et blanc et d' une durée d' environ 97 mn.
    Bonus : Un documentaire sur la légion (environ 15 mn). La bande annonce d' époque. Un superbe livret avec des notes et des photos sur les acteurs principaux, le réalisateur et le contexte du film.
    Report
  • Christian DA SILVA
    4.0 out of 5 stars Un film de Gabin que je ne connaissais que par le titre
    Reviewed in France on August 23, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Du Gabin d'avant guerre, mais le talent est là
    Report