They Were Five
1952, French. Directed by Jack Pinoteau.
Now that the world conflict is over, five inseparable wartime buddies swear eternal friendship now to each other. But there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip. Jean becomes a postman, Marcel a boxer, Roger an actor, André a student and Philippe remains what he has always been, a young man of good social standing. Roger, who can't find any role, is introduced through his singer sister Valérie, to Frédo, a shady nightclub owner.Roger soon becomes one of Frédo's henchmen. To make matters worse, he swipes Jean's fiancée, Simone. Marcel, who loses fight after fight, ends up joining Fredo's gang as well. André, who wanted to redeem the faults of his father during the Occupation, gets killed in the Indochina war. Marcel is shot down while taking part in a robbery. In her turn, Valérie is bumped off by an accomplice of Fredo and Roger is sent to jail.
- Runtime
- 1h 29m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- French
- Rated
- Check local
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Where to watch They Were Five
They Were Five isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 23 January 1952.
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Cast & crew
- Jack PinoteauDirector
- Jean CarmetJean - le postier
- Jean GavenMarcel - le boxeur
- Michel JourdanRoger Courtois - l'acteur
- Jean-Claude PascalPhilippe
- Arlette MerryValérie - La soeur de Roger, chanteuse de cabaret
- Louis de FunèsAlbert, le régisseur
- François MartinAndré Lamberay
- Nicole BesnardSimone - l'amie de Jean
- Irène HildaFabienne Dorée
- Marcel AndréLe commissaire
- Robert DalbanDufau - le manager
- Paul MesnierCast
Details
- Released
- 23 January 1952
- Original title
- Ils étaient cinq
- Country
- France
- Written by
- Pierre Laroche, Michel Jourdan
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
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They Were Five: quick answers
Is They Were Five worth watching?
They Were Five doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is They Were Five?
They Were Five runs 89 minutes (1h 29m).
Does They Were Five have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for They Were Five. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
They Were Five parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for They Were Five yet.
Which OTT platform is They Were Five on?
They Were Five isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 23 January 1952. (Checked 9 November 2026.)
What movies are like They Were Five?
If you liked They Were Five, try Adieu Philippine, La Belle Équipe, Charm City Kings.
Who directed They Were Five?
They Were Five (1952) was directed by Jack Pinoteau and stars Jean Carmet, Jean Gaven, Michel Jourdan.