La Grande Illusion: Difference between revisions
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'''''La Grande Illusion''''' is a [[1937]] [[French language|French]] film released in English-speaking countries as '''''Grand Illusion'''''. The film tells the story of French officers during [[World War I]] who are captured but are determined to escape. It stars [[Jean Gabin]], [[Dita Parlo]], [[Pierre Fresnay]] and [[Erich von Stroheim]]. |
'''''La Grande Illusion''''' is a [[1937]] [[French language|French]] film released in English-speaking countries as '''''Grand Illusion'''''. The film tells the story of French officers during [[World War I]] who are captured but are determined to escape. It stars [[Jean Gabin]], [[Dita Parlo]], [[Pierre Fresnay]] and [[Erich von Stroheim]]. |
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It'''''La Grande Illusion''''' is a [[1937]] [[film]] by renown director [[Jean Renoir]] ([[1894]]-[[1979]])—son of artist [[Pierre Renoir]]—is regarded by critics and film historians as one of the masterpieces of [[Cinema of France|French cinema]]. In English-speaking countries, the film was released as '''''Grand Illusion.''''' |
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The film tells the story of French officers during [[World War I]] who are captured but are determined to escape. It stars [[Jean Gabin]], [[Dita Parlo]], [[Pierre Fresnay]] and [[Erich von Stroheim]]. |
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It was written by [[Jean Renoir]] and [[Charles Spaak]], and directed by Renoir. It has a very strong anti-war message and portrays both the French prisoners and German captors in a sympathetic light. It is also one of the first films about an escape from a [[Prisoner of War]] camp. |
It was written by [[Jean Renoir]] and [[Charles Spaak]], and directed by Renoir. It has a very strong anti-war message and portrays both the French prisoners and German captors in a sympathetic light. It is also one of the first films about an escape from a [[Prisoner of War]] camp. |
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On the other hand, those characters who already understand each other — the aristocrats de Boeldieu ([[Pierre Fresnay]]) and von Rauffenstein ([[Erich von Stroheim]]) — and feel a bond of kinship that transcends national divisions also understand that their days are numbered. One of them kills the other; the one who survives considers his friend and victim to be the lucky one. |
On the other hand, those characters who already understand each other — the aristocrats de Boeldieu ([[Pierre Fresnay]]) and von Rauffenstein ([[Erich von Stroheim]]) — and feel a bond of kinship that transcends national divisions also understand that their days are numbered. One of them kills the other; the one who survives considers his friend and victim to be the lucky one. |
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The movie was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]], the first foreign language film to be nominated in this category. It was thought to be lost in the chaos of [[World War Two]], until a print surfaced some years later. |
The movie was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]], the first foreign language film to be nominated in this category. The film also won as Best Foreign Film award at the 1938 New York Film Critics Circle Awards. |
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It was thought to be lost in the chaos of [[World War Two]], until a print surfaced some years later. |
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==Cast== |
==Cast== |
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:[[Carl Koch]] |
:[[Carl Koch]] |
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:[[Michel Salina]] |
:[[Michel Salina]] |
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==Trivia== |
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* [[Jean Renoir]] was an aviator for the French Army during [[World War I]], actor [[Jean Gabin]] (as Maréchal) is wears Renoir's uniform in the film. |
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* [[Erich von Stroheim]], despite being born in [[Austria]] (then the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]]) did not speak [[German]], and struggled learning the language along with his lines in between filming scenes. |
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* After it won a prize at the [[Venice Film Festival]] in 1937, the [[Nazi Germany|Nazis]] declared the film "Cinematographic Enemy Number One." |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 03:14, 12 November 2004
La Grande Illusion is a 1937 French film released in English-speaking countries as Grand Illusion. The film tells the story of French officers during World War I who are captured but are determined to escape. It stars Jean Gabin, Dita Parlo, Pierre Fresnay and Erich von Stroheim.
ItLa Grande Illusion is a 1937 film by renown director Jean Renoir (1894-1979)—son of artist Pierre Renoir—is regarded by critics and film historians as one of the masterpieces of French cinema. In English-speaking countries, the film was released as Grand Illusion.
The film tells the story of French officers during World War I who are captured but are determined to escape. It stars Jean Gabin, Dita Parlo, Pierre Fresnay and Erich von Stroheim.
It was written by Jean Renoir and Charles Spaak, and directed by Renoir. It has a very strong anti-war message and portrays both the French prisoners and German captors in a sympathetic light. It is also one of the first films about an escape from a Prisoner of War camp.
One of the recurrent themes running through it is the difficulty that we face in overcoming the barriers of language and class; the optimistic message of the movie is that at least some of these barriers can be overcome with enough persistence. Maréchal, the character played by Jean Gabin, finally learns to speak a few words of German, although not quite correctly; Dita Parlo, who plays Elsa, speaks a few halting words in French.
On the other hand, those characters who already understand each other — the aristocrats de Boeldieu (Pierre Fresnay) and von Rauffenstein (Erich von Stroheim) — and feel a bond of kinship that transcends national divisions also understand that their days are numbered. One of them kills the other; the one who survives considers his friend and victim to be the lucky one.
The movie was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, the first foreign language film to be nominated in this category. The film also won as Best Foreign Film award at the 1938 New York Film Critics Circle Awards.
It was thought to be lost in the chaos of World War Two, until a print surfaced some years later.
Cast
- Jean Gabin as Lieutenant Maréchal, a French officer
- Erich von Stroheim as Captain von Rauffenstein, a German officer
- Dita Parlo as Elsa, a widowed German farm woman
- Pierre Fresnay as Captain de Boeldieu, a French officer
- Marcel Dalio as Lieutenant Rosenthal, a French officer
- Julien Carette as the showoff
- Georges Péclet as An officer
- Werner Florian as Sgt. Arthur
- Jean Dasté as The teacher
- Sylvain Itkine as Lieutenant Demolder
- Gaston Modot as The engineer
Several members of the cast were not listed in the film's credits (as was common in early films) including:
- Jacques Becker as an English officer
- Albert Brouett as a prisoner
- Claude Sainval as Ringis
- Carl Koch
- Michel Salina
Trivia
- Jean Renoir was an aviator for the French Army during World War I, actor Jean Gabin (as Maréchal) is wears Renoir's uniform in the film.
- Erich von Stroheim, despite being born in Austria (then the Austro-Hungarian Empire) did not speak German, and struggled learning the language along with his lines in between filming scenes.
- After it won a prize at the Venice Film Festival in 1937, the Nazis declared the film "Cinematographic Enemy Number One."
See also
External Link
- La Grande illusion at the [www.imdb.com Internet Movie Database]