La Grande Vadrouille (1966)

Several ordinary Frenchmen, helping British pilots avoid Nazi captivity, go on epic voyage through the occupied country to the Swiss border.

Director:

Gérard Oury

Writers:

Gérard Oury (scenario), Georges Tabet (dialogue)

Stars:

Bourvil, Louis de Funès, Claudio Brook

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bourvil	...	Augustin Bouvet
Louis de Funès	...	Stanislas Lefort
Claudio Brook	...	Peter Cunningham
Andréa Parisy	...	Soeur Marie-Odile / Sister Marie-Odile
Colette Brosset	...	Germaine
Mike Marshall	...	Alan MacIntosh
Mary Marquet	...	Mère Supérieure
Pierre Bertin	...	Le grand-père de Juliette - propriétaire du guignol
Benno Sterzenbach	...	Major Achbach
Marie Dubois	...	Juliette
Terry-Thomas	...	Sir Reginald
Sieghardt Rupp	...	Lt. Stuermer
Reinhard Kolldehoff	...	Un caporal allemand
Helmuth Schneider	...	L'officier allemand dans le train (as Helmut Schneider)
Paul Préboist	...	Le pêcheur

Storyline

A RAF Bomber is shot down over Paris by the Germans. Its crew land there by parachute. With the help of some French civilians they try to escape over the demarcation line into the southern part of France, still not occupied by the Germans.

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Plot Keywords:

escape | world war two in france | chase | parachuting | royal air force | 

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Taglines:

It's the Biggest, Brightest, Most Hilarious British Comedy of '68

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | War

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was the most successful French film in Germany until Welcome to the Sticks (2008) was released.

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Goofs

The RAF bomber Terry-Thomas and crew are flying is mostly a B-17 Flying Fortress. This is highly unlikely, as the RAF mainly flew Lancasters, Halifaxes and, earlier on, Stirlings.

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Quotes

Augustin Bouvet: [with strong French accent] You, you come with me to pick up Peter.
Stanislas LeFort: No, you you come with me to pick up MacIntosh!
Augustin Bouvet: No no no no, you you you! and if you don't come I... oh merde alors comment on dit ça...
Stanislas LeFort: Comment ça "merde alors"? but alors you are French!

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Alternate Versions

The original German release had several parts of the French original cut. Some of them might have been taken out because some gags could not be used because of the different languages used in the original (French, German and English). There is for example the quite funny scene when Claudio Brook reveals himself as an English man on the train when he says "I'm sorry" when spilling some vine. The German version instead just shows the angry German officer who commands to arrest the English soldier. Some parts are cut without any obvious reason - e.g. a humorous dialogue of de Funés and Bourvil, their escape and chase in German uniforms. The German version just comes into the scene when they are already arrested.

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Connections

Featured in Roma (2018)

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Soundtracks

Rakoczy March
(uncredited)
Music by Hector Berlioz

User Reviews

perhaps the best French comedy ever made...

The setting: a British bomber is shot down (due to some navigational errors) above Paris. The crew get separated, and each of them needs the help of a few French people to escape from the occupied city, and eventually to England. Of course, evil Germans persecute them throughout the movie...

All of this is a backdrop to a wonderful comedy. It could be compared with Mel Brooks' "To be or not to be", and I believe it comes out the superior of the two. Easily the best Louis de Funes movie ever - and so, perhaps, also the best French comedy ever...

Details

Country:

France UK

Language:

French English German

Release Date:

8 December 1966 (France)

Also Known As:

La Grande Vadrouille

Filming Locations:

16 Rue de la Faisanderie, Paris 16, Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

FRF15,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films Corona, The Rank Organisation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

132 min 101 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1