La Guerre in Three-Quarter Time

Rating: Null/10 (6 April 2004)

When this movie is coupled - as it often is - with Renoir's The Rules Of The Game the pairing can be seen to form an idealized statement that both life and warfare can be conducted according to Hoyle. What is quite singular about 'Illusion' is that it contains not one foot of combat footage. After a brief scene on a French air base which introduces two of the three principals, Pierre Fresnay and Jean Gabin, the action switches to a German equivalent where Eric Von Stroheim announces his latest coup and issues instructions that should the crew of the plane he has just shot down prove to be officers they are to be invited to lunch. So now, with great economy, we have our Three principals in one room. It is quickly established that Von Stroheim knows a relative of Fresnay and the 'civilities' are enhanced when a German officer offers to cut the meat for Gabin, who has one arm in a sling. Moments later the meal is interrupted as a wreath, bought by the German officers to commemorate the shooting down - this time fatal -of a previous French plane is carried into the room. Von Stroheim's apologies for this faux pas are extensive as is his 'bitter' regret that this incident may mar the lunch. Hang on! This is War, we're talking. Isn't it supposed to be Hell. Well, yes, General Sherman, it IS. In fact whilst all this civilised dining is going down THOUSANDS of foot-soldiers from France, Germany and England are actually DYING in rat-infested mud-filled dugouts. Nevertheless, like Stalag 17 in the next war Renoir's like Wilder's camera keeps well out of the way. Even when we get to the officer's prison camp it is light years away from Stalag 17 or even Von Ryan's Express in that there is little if any internicine bickering. But with all this La Grande Illusion remains a Great movie, one I have now seen three or four times and always viewed with pleasure. 8/10