Plot Summary

The three are brought to a P.O.W. camp, where the commander, Von Rauffenstein (Erich von Stroheim), takes an immediate liking to de Boeldieu. They are members of the same social class and believe that the political and intellectual ideals of the Europe they once knew will soon be a thing of the past with the rise to power of the proletariat. The three Frenchmen discover that their fellow prisoners have been digging an escape tunnel, and all of them agree to help — Maréchal and Rosenthal with enthusiasm, de Boeldieu out of a sense of duty. As he puts it, when on a golf course, one plays golf, and while in a prison camp, one tries to escape — it's the accepted thing to do. As Von Rauffenstein and de Boeldieu become friends, and the rank-and-file soldiers banter as much with the German guards as with each other, the characters seem involved less in a war than in some vast, petty game, albeit one with deadly consequences; they often talk about women and food, while never mentioning political ideology.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Newly restored digital transfer, created from the long-lost camera negative
• New and improved English subtitle translation
• A rare theatrical trailer in which Jean Renoir discusses both Grand Illusion and his personal war experiences
• Audio essay by film historian Peter Cowie
• Archival radio presentation: Renoir and Erich von Stroheim accept Grand Illusion's Best Foreign Film honors at the 1938 New York Film Critics Awards
• Press book excerpts: Renoir's letter "to the projectionist," cast bios, an essay on Renoir by von Stroheim, and essays about the film's title and recently recovered camera negative
• Restoration demonstration
• Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

Memorable Quotes

Capt. von Rauffenstein: May the earth lie lightly upon our valiant enemy.

Lieutenant Maréchal: The theater's too deep for me. I prefer bicycling.

Lieutenant Rosenthal: Frontiers are an invention of men. Nature doesn't give a hoot.