GRAND ILLUSION (LA GRANDE ILLUSION) BY JEAN RENOIR

This is a story about two French soldiers, Marechal and Genteel de Boieldieu who strive to overcome the differences that they have as they plot their escape from a German prison camp during World War I. Meanwhile Boieldieu sees a familiar spirit in a patrician German officer. The move, Grand Illusion has got an excellent cinematography by Christian Matras who brings the essence of the film and soundtrack by Emile Vuillermoz and Joseph Kosma.

Key casts are Jean Gabin as Lieutenant Marechel , Dita Parlo as Elsa, Pierre Fresnay as Captain de Boeldieu and Erich Von Stroheim as Captain von Rauffenstein.

10 reasons why you should watch Grand Illusion:

1. Grand Illusion is one of the first prison-break cinemas.
2. The film is considered to be a genre on its own.
3. This is the first foreign language film to be nominated for a legit Oscar.
4. Grand Illusion is famous even after half a century for its phenomenal work of art, eloquent, elegance and powerful moving.
5. The film is one of the best anti-war films ever made.
6. Director Jean Renoir has created a masterpiece with Grand Illusion.
7. The film is more about recognizing the human connections that we have with each other.
8. The characters of Grand Illusion are rich, civilized and human with dialogues intelligently told.
9. This is one of the best French films ever made.
10. The film can be ranked under top 100 foreign films.

I also recommend you to watch these two movies:

Boudu Saved from drowning - This Jean Renoir movie is about Boudu, a Parisian tramp who takes a suicidal plunge into the Seine and is rescued by a well-to-do bookseller.

The Elusive Corporal - The film stars Jean - Pierre Cassel as The Corporal, a French officer stuck in a German prison camp during World war II and whose initial attempts to escape fail.

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The Rules of the Game is a 1939 film directed by Jean Renoir about upper-class French society just before the start of World War II. The Rules of the Game is often cited as one of the best foreign language films in the history of cinema.

Grand Illusion is a 1937 war film directed by Jean Renoir. One of the top foreign films of all times, the story concerns class relationships among a small group of French officers who are prisoners of war during World War I and are plotting an escape..

Jean Renoir (15 September 1894 - 12 February 1979), born in the Montmartre district of Paris, France, was a film director, screenwriter, actor, producer and author. He was the second son of Aline Charigot and the French painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

Below is a poster of the French Director Jean Renoir, Son of Impressionist Painter Pierre Auguste. Just Click The Banner Below - Opens in New Window!

This image from the archives of LIFE magazine first appeared on November 9, 1962. Digitally printed on high gloss Premium Photographic Paper resulting in a unique silver pearlescent finish with stunning visual impact and depth that is suitable for museum or gallery display.

* Prix Louis Delluc, The Lower Depths, 1936
* Chevalier de Légion d'honneur, 1936
* National Board, The Lower Depths, 1937
* International Jury, Grand Illusion, 1937
* National Board, La Grande Illusion, 1938
* National Board, The Southerner, 1945
* Best Film, Venice, The Southerner, 1946
* National Board, The Diary of a Chambermaid
* Venice Film Festival: The River, 1951
* National Board of Review, The River, 1951
* Grand Prix de l'Academie du Cinéma, French Cancan, 1956
* Brazilian Film Festival, Rio de Janeiro, 1958
* Prix Charles Blanc, Renoir, My Father, biography of father, 1963
* Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts, Berkeley, 1963
* Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1964
* Best European Film, Bodil Awards, The Rules of the Game, 1966
* Osella d'Oro as a master of the cinema, Venice, 1968
* Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, London, 1971
* Honorary Academy Award for Career Accomplishment, 1974
* Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur, 1975

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Director: Agnès Varda, Cast: Sandrine Bonnaire, Setti Ramdane


Rocco and His Brothers is a 1960 Italian and French film directed by Luchino Visconti. Set in Milan, it tells the story of an immigrant family from the South and its disintegration in the society of the industrial North. A great saga that belongs to my list of best foreign films without reservation.

Shoot the Piano Player is a 1960 French film directed by Francois Truffaut, starring Charles Aznavour. Wow! This should be in any Top 100 Foreign Films list, no exception!

Director: François Truffaut, Cast: Charles Aznavour, Marie Dubois


Diary of a Country Priest is a 1951 French film directed by Robert Bresson, and starring Claude Laydu. It was closely based on the novel of the same name by Georges Bernanos. It tells the story of a young, sickly priest, who has just arrived in his first parish, a village in northern France.

Belle de jour is a 1967 French film starring Catherine Deneuve as a woman who decides to spend her days as a prostitute while her husband is at work. A terrific creation, this will adorn any list of best foreign language films.
Director: Luis Buñuel, Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Jean Sorel


Mon Oncle is a 1958 film comedy by French filmmaker Jacques Tati. The first of Tati's films to be released in colour, Mon Oncle won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, a Special Prize at the 1958 Cannes Film Festival, and the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Foreign Language Film, receiving more honors than any of Tati's other cinematic works.

Contempt (French: Le Mepris) is a 1963 film directed by Jean-Luc Godard. A must see for anyone who wants to explore the Top 100 Foreign Films of all times.

Director: Jean-Luc Godard, Cast: Brigitte Bardot, Michel Piccoli


My Favorite Season is a 1993 French drama film directed by Andre Techine. The story concerns a matriarch Berthe (Marthe Villalonga) who goes to live with her daughter Emilie (Catherine Deneuve) and her family. It won the award for Best Foreign Language Films at the 1996 Boston Society of Film Critics Awards.

Breathless is a 1960 film directed by Jean-Luc Godard. Godard's first feature-length film is among the inaugural films of the French New Wave and came straight into my list of Top Foreign Films. It derived from a scenario by fellow New Wave director, Francois Truffaut, and the film was released the year after Truffaut's The 400 Blows and Alain Resnais's Hiroshima, Mon Amour.

The Butcher is a 1970 French drama / thriller film written and directed by Claude Chabrol. Helene is a confident, slightly naive young teacher who is adored by her pupils at the school where she works and lives. She meets the local butcher, Popaul, at a wedding ceremony, and they strike up a close but platonic relationship.

Beauty and the Beast is a 1946 French romantic fantasy film. The plot of Cocteau's film revolves around Belle's father who is sentenced to death for picking a rose from Beast's garden.

Director: Jean Cocteau, Cast: Jean Marais, Josette Day


The 400 Blows is a 1959 French film directed by Francois Truffaut. One of the defining films of the French New Wave, it displays many of the characteristic traits of the movement. The story revolves around Antoine Doinel, an ordinary adolescent in Paris, who is thought by his parents and teachers to be a trouble maker.

The Samurai is a 1967 French minimalist crime drama/thriller film directed by French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Melville. The film's protagonist Jef Costello is played by Alain Delon. You will find this film in any sensible best foreign movies list.


Forbidden Games is a 1952 French language film directed by Rene Clement and based on Francois Boyer's novel, Jeux interdits. It has a very unique place in my best foreign films list.

The Rules of the Game is a 1939 film directed by Jean Renoir about upper-class French society just before the start of World War II. The Rules of the Game is often cited as one of the best foreign language films in the history of cinema.

A Prophet is a 2009 French crime film directed by Jacques Audiard. The film won the Grand Prix at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival. Audiard claims that the film aims at "creating icons, images for people who don't have images in movies, like the Arabs in France,"

Grand Illusion Grand Illusion is a 1937 war film directed by Jean Renoir, who co-wrote the screenplay with Charles Spaak. The story concerns class relationships among a small group of French officers who are prisoners of war during World War I and are plotting an escape.