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Grand Illusion

1937 1h 54m
Drama History War
MOVIEVIBE Rating
7.9/10
796 reviews
Your Rating
Grand Illusion

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.

"A Great Drama of Human Emotions"

Top Billed Cast

Jean Gabin
Jean Gabin
Lieutenant Maréchal
Dita Parlo
Dita Parlo
Elsa
Pierre Fresnay
Pierre Fresnay
Captain de Boëldieu
Erich von Stroheim
Erich von Stroheim
Captain von Rauffenstein
Julien Carette
Julien Carette
Cartier, the Vaudeville Performer
Georges Péclet
Georges Péclet
Officer
Werner Florian
Werner Florian
Sergeant Arthur
Jean Dasté
Jean Dasté
Teacher

Detailed Critic & Audience Reviews

C CinemaSerf Verified TMDB Critic
2022-06-20

Very much more of a character-driven look at the experiences of French prisoners during the first world war. The inmates represent - much as did their army - soldiers from all aspects of life. The aristocratic Pierre Fresnay as "Boeldieu", Jean Gabin "Maréchal" and Marcel Dalio "Rosenthal" as the more down to earth captives - but all proud Frenchmen with their own determination to escape their imprisonment. The film features many of their valiant escape attempts; along with providing us with quite an interesting illustration of the toughness of their existence and the diversions they sought f...