"Grand Illusion" is one of the most human films I have ever seen. While Criterion's laserdisc was passable, the current DVD is truly remarkable, with deep blacks and good sound. Jean Renor directed this grand daddy of prisoner of war films, where French and German Officers in World War I try to maintain a balance between gentlemanly chivalry and the duty to escape. Erich von Stroheim is wonderful as the flying officer turned warden and we feel his stiffness and each ache and pain as he moves about. The film is in French but occasionally shifts to English and other languages, as if to subtley suggest the commonally of men in wartime conditions. I always show the last part at Christmastime and have been a champion of this film from the moment I saw it.
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Topic - "La Grande Illusion" - rico 12:30:04 05/29/06 (15)
- It's on my top ten list of all time... - RGA 07:07:45 05/31/06 (2)
- A Grande Illusion in its portrayal of war, too. Oh, the tip of the - tinear 16:31:03 06/01/06 (0)
- I am sure right next to the 8 1/2 - Victor Khomenko 07:32:00 05/31/06 (0)
- Yes, when the newly-restored version came out I made sure to see it in the thratre. Also... - clarkjohnsen 07:48:03 05/30/06 (9)
- What did you see in the theater? - Victor Khomenko 06:06:15 05/31/06 (8)
- What else? The very restoration being discussed! nt - clarkjohnsen 11:28:55 05/31/06 (7)
- I thought he was talking about the DVD... did you see a film version? - Victor Khomenko 11:30:08 05/31/06 (6)
- Victor, they don't "restore the DVD". - clarkjohnsen 11:48:52 05/31/06 (5)
- Are you entirely sure of that? - Victor Khomenko 13:05:55 05/31/06 (3)
- Done in the digital domain or not, it ends up on celluloid for projection. Also... - clarkjohnsen 07:54:33 06/01/06 (2)
- Restoring in the digital domain is what I was referring to as DVD restoration - Victor Khomenko 11:40:01 06/01/06 (1)
- Major misunderstanding on your part there, buster. nt - clarkjohnsen 12:04:47 06/01/06 (0)
- Re: Victor, they don't "restore the DVD". - rico 12:01:58 05/31/06 (0)
- Another Film About Humanity. - AudioHead 15:43:07 05/29/06 (1)
- until... - dave c 20:30:41 05/29/06 (0)