Grand Illusion

Play trailer

Grand Illusion

1937

1h 53m

Drama

War

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

74 Reviews

92%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

A group of French soldiers, including the patrician Captain de Boeldieu (Pierre Fresnay) and the working-class Lieutenant Maréchal (Jean Gabin), 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 (Erich von Stroheim), who has formed an unexpected bond with de Boeldieu.

Critics Consensus

Jean Renoir's Grand Illusion is a masterful anti-war statement, bringing humane insight and an undercurrent of ironic humor to an unusual relationship between captor and captive.

Read Critics Reviews

Otis Ferguson

The New Republic

Dec 26, 2023

A little more art (always as opposed to artifice or the arty) could have heightened the beauty and truth of this film, which already has as much as we’ve seen anywhere this year.

Go to Full Review

Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Jan 30, 2021

5/5

It's a smart choice and a peerless film that makes sweeping rhetorical statements about the futility of war while maintaining a laser-sharp focus on an ensemble of meticulously drawn characters.

Go to Full Review

Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

Nov 3, 2018

The greatest World War I movie ever made (and there were lots of good ones)...

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 5, 2025

4/4

In 1952, both Orson Welles and David Lean cited this as one of their 10 all-time favorite films. Still, not everyone was a fan: Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's rat-faced Minister of Propaganda, declared it "Cinematic Public Enemy No. 1."

Go to Full Review

Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

Jul 6, 2025

4/4

On the other side of the coin is Jean Renoir’s interpersonal exploration of war, class distinction, and prejudice. Grand Illusion is a film that never once places a scene on the battlefield.

Go to Full Review

Ian Kane

Epoch Times

Sep 27, 2024

4.5/5

This timeless classic still resonates today, as it offers a hopeful reflection on the illusions that shape our world, and the enduring connections that unite humanity across all borders, classes, and conflicts.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

EE D

@RT03285035 May 23, 2026

surprisingly well aged movie! Though it's almost 100 years old the movie doesn't look stupid- there's wit, there's suspense (that doesn't look theatrical) and the pace of the movie is super well done for that age (and is good by todays standards), recommended

See more

Stephen C

@bob25009 Jun 9, 2025

Failure in 1 hour and 53 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The cast and crew are unreliable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See more

William B

@RT83652365 Jan 14, 2025

A great classic. One of the best of French films.

See more

BowTangey M

@BowTangey Jan 3, 2025

The most interesting facet of this famed antiwar movie is that it was made in 1937, about the First World War, before the horrors of the Second showed how little had been learned.

See more

Marit Risto F

@RT66247982 Oct 11, 2024

I just love it. The way they're making a joke of war. Made by Pierre-Auguste Renoir's son! Jean Gabin I find fabulous too.

See more

Eli B

@RT85540821 Mar 21, 2024

Grand Illusion explores the idea of social class and the bonds that are formed between people who are on opposite sides of a conflict. Through the interactions between the French and German soldiers, the movie highlights the common humanity that exists between people, regardless of nationality. Full review: https://cinephilecorner.com/reviews/grand-illusion-movie-1937/

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Jean Renoir

Director

Pierre Fresnay

Capt. de Boieldieu

Erich von Stroheim

Capt. von Rauffenstein

Jean Gabin

Lt. Maréchal

Marcel Dalio

Lt. Rosenthal

Dita Parlo

Elsa (farm woman)

Westfront 1918

100%

82%

Westfront 1918

Watchlist

In Which We Serve

90%

75%

In Which We Serve

Watchlist

Twelve O'Clock High

96%

86%

Twelve O'Clock High

Watchlist

Germany Year Zero

96%

86%

Germany Year Zero

Watchlist

Paisan

100%

86%

Paisan

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Five Favorite Films with John Turturro

Sundance Reviews: Short and Sweet, A Review Roundup

View more photos

Synopsis

A group of French soldiers, including the patrician Captain de Boeldieu (Pierre Fresnay) and the working-class Lieutenant Maréchal (Jean Gabin), 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 (Erich von Stroheim), who has formed an unexpected bond with de Boeldieu.

Director: Jean Renoir
Producer: Albert Pinkovitch, Frank Rollmer
Distributor: Home Vision Entertainment, Barr Entertainment
Production Co: R.A.C.
Genre: Drama, War
Original Language: Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 12, 1937, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): May 11, 2012
Release Date (Streaming): May 14, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $516.5K
Runtime: 1h 53m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings