Grand Illusion
La Grande Illusion
“A Great Drama of Human Emotions”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
La Grande Illusion TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2012-03-15
Top Cast
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Jean Gabin
Lieutenant Maréchal
Dita Parlo
Elsa
Pierre Fresnay
Captain de Boëldieu
Erich von Stroheim
Captain von Rauffenstein
Julien Carette
Cartier, the Vaudeville Performer
Georges Péclet
Officer
Werner Florian
Sergeant Arthur
Jean Dasté
Teacher
Sylvain Itkine
Lieutenant Demolder
Gaston Modot
Engineer
Marcel Dalio
Lieutenant Rosenthal
Jacques Becker
British Officer (uncredited)
Habib Benglia
Senegalese (uncredited)
Pierre Blondy
Soldier (uncredited)
Albert Brouett
Prisoner (uncredited)
Géo Forster
Maison-Neuve (uncredited)
Georges Fronval
German Soldier Who Kills Captain de Boëldieu (uncredited)
Karl Heil
Officer of the Fortress (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
Paris
Festival / Special Debut
September 12, 1938
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
Undisclosed
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$173K
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jean Renoir
- Screenplay & Story
- Charles Spaak, Jean Renoir
- Original Score
- Joseph Kosma
- Original Title
- La Grande Illusion
- Country of Origin
- France
- Spoken Languages
- Russian, German, French, English
- Runtime
- 1h 54m
- Worldwide Gross
- $173K
- Production Studios
- Réalisation d'Art Cinématographique
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jean Renoir
Charles Spaak, Jean Renoir
Joseph Kosma
Christian Matras
Marthe Huguet, Marguerite Renoir
Frank Rollmer, Albert Pinkovitch
Department Leadership Roster
Jean Renoir
Director
Frank Rollmer
Producer
René Decrais
Costume Design
Christian Matras
Director of Photography
Joseph Kosma
Original Music Composer
Marthe Huguet
Editor
Albert Pinkovitch
Producer
Eugène Lourié
Production Design
Marguerite Renoir
Editor
Charles Spaak
Writer
Jean Renoir
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Grand Illusion.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Grand Illusion.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Grand Illusion
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Grand Illusion about?
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.
Who directed Grand Illusion?
Grand Illusion was directed by Jean Renoir.
Who stars in Grand Illusion?
The principal cast of Grand Illusion includes Jean Gabin, Dita Parlo, Pierre Fresnay, Erich von Stroheim, Julien Carette.
When was Grand Illusion released and how long is it?
Grand Illusion was released in 1937 with a total runtime of 1h 54m.
How much did Grand Illusion make at the box office?
Grand Illusion grossed $173K in worldwide ticket sales.
Who composed the musical score for Grand Illusion?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Grand Illusion was composed by Joseph Kosma.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Grand Illusion?
Grand Illusion holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: TP; US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).