

Grand Illusion
A Great Drama of Human Emotions
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.
TMDB
7.9/10
807 votes
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Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- —
- Box office
- $172.9K
- Language
- Russian
- prisoner
- france
- countryside
- escape
- germany
- world war i
- prisoner of war
- brotherhood
- camp
- aristocrat
- fraternity
- war injury
Top billed cast













Behind the camera
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for United States. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
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Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- TheatricalNR12 Sept 1938
- TVNew York City, New York18 Aug 1939
- TheatricalNRRe-release27 Aug 1999
United KingdomGB
- Theatrical1 Jan 1938
- TheatricalRe-release24 Jul 1998
- TheatricalRe-release6 Apr 2012
- PremiereLeeds International Film Festival7 Nov 2014
ArgentinaAR
- Theatrical+1314 Apr 1938
BelgiumBE
- TheatricalBrussels18 Jun 1937
BrazilBR
- TheatricalLRe-release24 Aug 2001
- Theatrical (limited)LCineSesc ("Sessão Especial: Clássicos do Cinema de Rua")19 Jul 2026
CroatiaHR
- Theatrical12 Jan 1938
DenmarkDK
- Theatrical22 Nov 1937
- TheatricalRe-release8 Sept 1959
- TheatricalRe-release2 Jul 1964
FinlandFI
- TheatricalK-1631 Oct 1937
- TheatricalRe-release1 May 1959
- TheatricalRe-release27 Jul 1979
FranceFR
- PremiereParis8 Jun 1937
- TheatricalTPRe-release7 Sept 1944
- TheatricalTPRe-release21 Jun 1972
- TheatricalTPRestored Version15 Feb 2012
- PremiereLumière Film Festival11 Oct 2020
GermanyDE
- Theatrical1210 Sept 1948
- TVEast Germany29 Dec 1970
ItalyIT
- PremiereVenice Film Festival18 Aug 1937
- TheatricalT10 Dec 1947
- TheatricalRe-release3 Mar 2014
- TVByoblu20 Dec 2022
JapanJP
- Theatrical21 May 1949
Frequently asked questions
Grand Illusion was released on 18 June 1937.
Audience reviews
1- C7/10
CinemaSerf
6/20/2022
Very much more of a character-driven look at the experiences of French prisoners during the first world war. The inmates represent - much as did their army - soldiers from all aspects of life. The aristocratic Pierre Fresnay as "Boeldieu", Jean Gabin "Maréchal" and Marcel Dalio "Rosenthal" as the more down to earth captives - but all proud Frenchmen with their own determination to escape their imprisonment. The film …
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