Grand Illusion
Seen it?1937 | 114 min | Drama, History, War
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (97% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences rate it highly (7.9 out of 10). Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for history buffs. If you loved The Bridge on the River Kwai or All Quiet on the Western Front, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Intense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 54 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1937: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
A group of French soldiers, including the patrician Captain de Boeldieu and the working-class Lieutenant Maréchal, grapple with their own class differences after being captured and held in a World War I German prison camp. When the men are transferred to a high-security fortress, they must concoct a plan to escape beneath the watchful eye of aristocratic German officer von Rauffenstein, who has formed an unexpected bond with de Boeldieu.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
97% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesStrong
7.9 out of 10
- AwardsBelow par
Nominated for 1 Oscar.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$173K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 67K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Jean Renoir
- Jean GabinLieutenant Maréchal
- Dita ParloElsa
- Pierre FresnayCaptain de Boëldieu
- Erich von StroheimCaptain von Rauffenstein
- Julien CaretteCartier, the Vaudeville Performer
- Georges PécletOfficer
- Werner FlorianSergeant Arthur
- Jean DastéTeacher
- Sylvain ItkineLieutenant Demolder
- Gaston ModotEngineer