The 317th Platoon
La 317ème Section
Synopsis
In Laos, 1954, eight days before the french defeat in the Indochina war, the 317th platoon – four french soldiers and 41 laotian combatants – has been ordered to leave its outpost and to retreat for the plains of Diên Biên Phu, where the french army is getting stucked. Led by the inexperienced and idealistic sous-lieutenant Torrens, fresh out of the military academy, and by adjutant Willsdorf, a WWII veteran of the Werhmacht, the group must cross 150 kilometers of jungle. But dripping rainwater, hostile nature, and the Viêt-minh ambushes expose them to constant danger.
Top Cast
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Release History & Theatrical Window
March 31, 1965
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$66K
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$307K
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
4.64x
+$241K net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Pierre Schoendoerffer
- Screenplay & Story
- Pierre Schoendoerffer
- Original Score
- Pierre Jansen, Gregorio García Segura
- Original Title
- La 317ème Section
- Country of Origin
- France, Spain
- Spoken Languages
- French, Vietnamese
- Runtime
- 1h 40m
- Production Budget
- $66K
- Worldwide Gross
- $307K
- Production Studios
- Rome-Paris Films, Producciones Benito Perojo
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Pierre Schoendoerffer
Pierre Schoendoerffer
Pierre Jansen, Gregorio García Segura
Raoul Coutard
Armand Psenny
Benito Perojo, Georges de Beauregard
Department Leadership Roster
Pierre Schoendoerffer
Director
Armand Psenny
Editor
Pierre Schoendoerffer
Screenplay
Benito Perojo
Producer
Pierre Jansen
Original Music Composer
Gregorio García Segura
Original Music Composer
Raoul Coutard
Director of Photography
Georges de Beauregard
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The 317th Platoon.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The 317th Platoon.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The 317th Platoon
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The 317th Platoon about?
In Laos, 1954, eight days before the french defeat in the Indochina war, the 317th platoon – four french soldiers and 41 laotian combatants – has been ordered to leave its outpost and to retreat for the plains of Diên Biên Phu, where the french army is getting stucked. Led by the inexperienced and idealistic sous-lieutenant Torrens, fresh out of the military academy, and by adjutant Willsdorf, a WWII veteran of the Werhmacht, the group must cross 150 kilometers of jungle. But dripping rainwater, hostile nature, and the Viêt-minh ambushes expose them to constant danger.
Who directed The 317th Platoon?
The 317th Platoon was directed by Pierre Schoendoerffer.
Who stars in The 317th Platoon?
The principal cast of The 317th Platoon includes Jacques Perrin, Bruno Cremer, Pierre Fabre, Manuel Zarzo, Boramy Tioulong.
When was The 317th Platoon released and how long is it?
The 317th Platoon was released in 1965 with a total runtime of 1h 40m.
What was the box office and production budget of The 317th Platoon?
The 317th Platoon had a reported production budget of $66K and grossed $307K at the worldwide box office (4.64 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for The 317th Platoon?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The 317th Platoon was composed by Pierre Jansen, Gregorio García Segura.
Is The 317th Platoon based on a book or true story?
The 317th Platoon is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Pierre Schoendoerffer".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The 317th Platoon?
The 317th Platoon holds official age classifications: FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).