The Elusive Corporal
Le Caporal épinglé
Synopsis
An upper-class corporal is captured by the Germans during their 1940 invasion of France. Assisted and accompanied by characters as diverse as a morose dairy farmer, a waiter, a myopic intellectual, a working-class Parisian, and a German dental assistant, the corporal tries to escape from prison camps, sometimes making it a few yards, sometimes reaching the border.
Top Cast
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Jean-Pierre Cassel
Caporal
Claude Brasseur
Papa
Claude Rich
Ballochet
Jacques Jouanneau
Émile, aka 'Penche-à-gauche', waiter
Mario David
'Caruso', amateur athlete, insurance agent
Jean Carmet
Guillaume aka 'Le Fermier'
Philippe Castelli
'L'électricien'
Guy Bedos
The stuttering prisoner
O.E. Hasse
Drunk traveler on the train
Cornelia Froboess
Erika Schmidt
Sacha Briquet
Escapee disguised as an old woman
Raymond Jourdan
Hippolyte Dupieu
Gérard Darrieu
Cross-eyed man
Lucien Raimbourg
Station employee
François Darbon
Peasant
Helmut Janatsch
Otto, Commander of the Stalag
Release History & Theatrical Window
Adelaide Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
February 18, 1963
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jean Renoir
- Screenplay & Story
- Jean Renoir, Guy Lefranc, Jacques Perret
- Original Score
- Joseph Kosma
- Original Title
- Le Caporal épinglé
- Country of Origin
- France
- Spoken Languages
- German, French
- Runtime
- 1h 45m
- Production Studios
- Les Films du Cyclope, Société Nouvelle Pathé Cinéma
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jean Renoir
Jean Renoir, Guy Lefranc, Jacques Perret
Joseph Kosma
Georges Leclerc
Renée Lichtig
Department Leadership Roster
Jean Renoir
Director
Georges Leclerc
Director of Photography
Renée Lichtig
Editor
Jean Renoir
Writer
Guy Lefranc
Writer
Joseph Kosma
Original Music Composer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Elusive Corporal.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Elusive Corporal.
War: World War II
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MovieLens[30K:40K]
Notable French movies 1950s to 1980s
Award nominated films
Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA
BAFTA - Best Film Award Winners
BAFTA - Best Film Award Winners
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Elusive Corporal
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Elusive Corporal about?
An upper-class corporal is captured by the Germans during their 1940 invasion of France. Assisted and accompanied by characters as diverse as a morose dairy farmer, a waiter, a myopic intellectual, a working-class Parisian, and a German dental assistant, the corporal tries to escape from prison camps, sometimes making it a few yards, sometimes reaching the border.
Who directed The Elusive Corporal?
The Elusive Corporal was directed by Jean Renoir.
Who stars in The Elusive Corporal?
The principal cast of The Elusive Corporal includes Jean-Pierre Cassel, Claude Brasseur, Claude Rich, Jacques Jouanneau, Mario David.
When was The Elusive Corporal released and how long is it?
The Elusive Corporal was released in 1962 with a total runtime of 1h 45m.
Who composed the musical score for The Elusive Corporal?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Elusive Corporal was composed by Joseph Kosma.
Is The Elusive Corporal based on a book or true story?
The Elusive Corporal is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Jacques Perret".