Seven films by French auteur Jean Renoir. La Grande Illusion (1937) is an archetypal prison escape film, generally regarded as Jean Renoir's most popular film of the 1930s and one which, although often seen as a humane and pacifist indictment of war, offers an ambiguous perspective on class differences. Set in a WWI German .. Read more
| Starring | Julien Carette, Marcel Dalio, Georges Peclet, Erich Von Stroheim |
|---|---|
| Director | Jean Renoir |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
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Seven films by French auteur Jean Renoir. La Grande Illusion (1937) is an archetypal prison escape film, generally regarded as Jean Renoir's most popular film of the 1930s and one which, although often seen as a humane and pacifist indictment of war, offers an ambiguous perspective on class differences. Set in a WWI German prisoner-of-war camp, the film tells the story of three French soldiers, the working-class Marechal (Jean Gabin), the middle-class Jew Rosenthal (Marcel Dalio) and the aristocrat senior officer Boieldieu (Pierre Fresnay), who are held prisoner by Commandant Von Rauffenstein (Erich von Stroheim). The film shows how a bond of sympathy exists more between the German Commandant and the senior French officer than between the three Frenchman of different classes. Even though Boieldieu sacrifices himself for the two others to escape, the film makes no attempt to conceal what they are returning to once their role as war-heroes is over. In 'Le Caporal Epingle' (1952), an upper-class corporal from Paris is captured by the Germans when they invade France in 1940. 'La Merseillaise' (1938) is a news-reel like film about early part of the French Revolution, shown from the eyes of individual people across the country. 'La Bete Humaine' (1938) is an adaptation of the novel by Emile Zola. Jean Gabin plays a train driver who falls in love with a colleague's wife, Severine (Simone Simon). Her jealous husband has already murdered his wife's former lover. Jean Renoir directs this tense love triangle, which focuses on love, betrayal and violent jealousy. In 'Le Testament Du Docteur Cordelier' (1959), a lawyer, Joly (Teddy Bilis) is disturbed when his friend, the eminent psychiatrist and researcher, Dr Cordelier (Jean-Louis Barrault), makes out a will leaving everything to a mysterious stranger, Opale (also played by Jean-Louis Barrault). In 'Le Dejeuner Sur L'Herbe (1959)', Etienne Alexis, a candidate for president of the new Europe, is a scientist promoting artificial insemination for social betterment and therapy to eliminate passion. Finally, in 'Elena et les Hommes' (1956), Polish countess Elena (Ingrid Bergman) falls in love with a French radical party's candidate in pre-World War I Paris - but another officer pines for her.
| Starring | Julien Carette, Marcel Dalio, Georges Peclet, Erich Von Stroheim, Erich von Stroheim, Jean Renoir, Dita Parlo, Simone Simon, Sylvain Itkime, Jean Gabin, Gaston Modot, Jean Daste, Ingrid Bergman, Werner Florian, Pierre Fresnay, Fernand Ledoux |
|---|---|
| Director | Jean Renoir |
| Studio | ELEVATION |
| Run time | DVD: 11 hrs 48 mins |
| Certificate |  |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
| Language | DVD: French |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | Production year: 1998 To Rent: DVD: not available To Buy: DVD: 04 Jun 2007 |
Or you can rent each disc individually:
La Grande Illusion
One of the great classics of French Cinema. La Grande Illusion tells the story of French soldiers of very diff...
Le Testament Du Docteur Cordelier
A lawyer, Joly (Teddy Bilis) is disturbed when his friend, the eminent psychiatrist and researcher, Dr Cordeli...
La Bete Humaine
A mad train driver falls in love with a married woman. They plot to kill the wife's husband... ...
Le Dejeuner Sur L'Herbe
Etienne Alexis, a candidate for president of the new Europe, is a scientist promoting artificial insemination ...
Le Caporal Epingle
An upper-class corporal from Paris is captured by the Germans when they invade France in 1940....
La Marseillaise
A news-reel like movie about early part of the Frensh Revolution, shown from the eyes of individual people....
Elena Et Les Hommes
Polish countess Elena falls in love with a French radical party's candidate, a general, in pre-World War I Par...
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La Grande Escape
Surprisingly for one of the greatest war films ever made there are no scenes of combat, just the experiences of French POWs in WW1. Renoir deals with the ... read more »
[Highly rated reviewer]
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The French Escape
A great film but its like watching the great escape in french. Full of a range of emotions, this is quite possibly one of the greatest war films that the ... read more »
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Le crime de monsieur lange=masterpiece
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
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A Moving Anti-war Classic
Powerful and moving, la Grande Illusion beautifuly illustrates the futility and hopelessness of war, Renoir delicately and masterfully displays subtle moments ... read more »
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