The Army Game (1960)
"Tire-au-flanc 62" (original title)

Jean Lerat de la Grignotière is as full of himself as his name is long. Heeding (somewhat reluctantly to be true) the call of the Motherland he goes to the barracks where he is to ... See full summary »

Directors:

Claude de Givray, François Truffaut

Writers:

André Mouézy-Éon (play), André Sylvane (play),

Stars:

Christian de Tillière, Ricet Barrier, Jacques Balutin

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christian de Tillière	...	2ème classe Jean Lerat de la Grinotière (as Christian de Tilière)
Ricet Barrier	...	2éme classe Joseph Vidauban (as Ricet-Barrier)
Jacques Balutin	...	Le caporal Bourrache / Corporal
Pierre Maguelon	...	(as Petit Bobo)
Serge Korber	...	Le troupier à lunettes
Pierre Fabre	...	Un troupier
Jean-Max Rivière	...	Un troupier
Cabu	...	Le soldat Cabu, as du dessin
Jean-François Adam	...	Un troupier
Paul Kanoui
Romuald	...	(as Romuald Figuier)
Nicolas Rémon
Guy Gilles
Isidro Romero
Gérard Poirot

Storyline

Jean Lerat de la Grignotière is as full of himself as his name is long. Heeding (somewhat reluctantly to be true) the call of the Motherland he goes to the barracks where he is to accomplish his military duty. Posted to Corporal Bourrache's platoon he is surprised to meet there...Joseph, his own servant. Making blunder after blunder Jean gets hazed by his comrades and punished by his officers while Joseph's adaptation to military life is as smooth as can be. All this does not prevent the young snob from courting Catherine, the colonel's daughter, not very successfully at the beginning. Things start shaping better when he accepts to play a part in "Tire-au-flanc", Mouëzy-Eon's famed comedy. Interpreting the servant while Joseph plays his master, the successful beginner at long last becomes popular among the other soldiers and gets Catherine's hand as a bonus.

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Plot Keywords:

based on play

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

20 December 1961 (France)

Also Known As:

The Army Game

Company Credits

Production Co:

Auray Films, Les Films du Carrosse, Sédif Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Rendez-vous (Stanislas)"
Written by Ricet Barrier, Bernard Lelou and Lydia Palazzo
Performed by Ricet Barrier (1961)

User Reviews

Military farce (?) without a speck of fun.

No charm, no finesse, strictly no fun at all! One of those films by Truffaut (I know full well that he is far from the only person responsible) that makes me stop and think: did he really have a sense of humor? Avoid at all costs! Go straight for his films of passion: The Silken Skin with the wonderful, wonderful Francoise Dorléac, or The Siren of Missisippi, with her sister, Deneuve. Or, of course The 400 Blows. Certainly, there are more great films by him, such as the really great thriller The Bride Wore Black, for example - Truffaut at his very best and most entertaining, and also his last two films of great passion and dark deeds: The Woman Next Door, and Confidentially Yours. But please, for your own good, avoid this!