La Grande Illusion
Movie Poster
Country
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Directed by
Jean Renoir
Release Date
June 8, 1937
Language
English
Studio
Réalisations d'Art Cinématographique (RAC)
Distributor
Réalisation d'art cinématographique (RAC)
La Grande Illusion The Great Illusion ) is a 1937 French anti-war drama directed by Jean Renoir. Two French officers - the noble Captain De Boeldieu and the worker Lieutenant Maréchal - are shot down during the First World War. They fall into captivity, where they meet other French of various origins, including Rosenthal, son of a Jewish banker. Because the Frenchmen are constantly trying to escape, they are placed under the supervision of the aristocrat von Rauffenstein. De Boeldieu befriends him, but Maréchal and Rosenthal continue to escape.
The following weapons were used in the film La Grande Illusion :
Pistols Colt M1911 A captured Colt M1911 pistol is the personal firearm of Major von Rauffenstein (Erich von Stroheim ) which he used during the escape attempt of Captain de Boeldieu (Pierre Fresnay ). The reason why he owns this pistol could be that he took it from a British or Russian officer or he purchased it before the war. The USA joined the war in 1917 and the story with him takes place in 1916. He carries the Colt in a Luger holster.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Screen used M1911 pistol (Hero Gun) carried and used by Sam Elliott as Command Sergeant Major Basil Plumley in We Were Soldiers Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Colt on von Rauffenstein's table. Error creating thumbnail: File missing He holds his Colt after taking it from his Luger holster... Error creating thumbnail: File missing "Halt! Error creating thumbnail: File missing ... and fires. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another angle of the pistol. FN Model 1900 An FN Model 1900 pistol lies on another table.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing FN Model 1900 - .32 ACP Error creating thumbnail: File missing The pistol on the edge of the table. Revolvers MAS Mle. 1892 An Mle 1892 Revolver is seen next to the FN pistol.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Revolver d'ordonnance modèle 1892 - 8x27mmSR Error creating thumbnail: File missing The revolver on the right. Note the typical ejector rod. Webley Mk. VI A British Webley Mk VI lies next to the Mle. 1892 Revolver.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Webley Mark IV - .455 Webley Error creating thumbnail: File missing The third revolver from the left. Note the front sight. Unknown Revolver A third revolver can be seen on the table next to the Webley.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The revolver on the right between the Webley and a meal container. Rifles Gewehr 1888/05 The majority of German Prison guards and soldiers are armed with Gewehr 1888/05 throughout the movie. This is historically accurate, as these rifles were mostly issued to rear troops.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gewehr 1888/05 - 7.92x57mm (8x57 IS) Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Prison guard on the right with his shouldered Gewehr during the arrival at the Hallbach PoW camp. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An old guard stands with his Gewehr which has a fixed Seitengewehr SG 98 bayonet. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another Gew. 88/05 with SG 98 bayonet in the hands of the personal guard of Maréchal (Jean Gabin ). Error creating thumbnail: File missing The same guard outside the solitary confinement cell. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Prison guard wearing a Tschako (Shako) fires his rifle at the fleeing de Boeldieu. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two German soldiers hold their Gewehrs at the Swiss border. Note the ejecting hole on the right one, which was actually closed on the 88/05 variant. Also, note the Luger holster carried by the left soldier. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The left soldier lowers his rifle which now gives a look at the converted receiver. Mauser Gewehr 1898 Some German soldiers can nevertheless be seen carrying Mauser Gewehr 1898 rifles. The G98s are also armed with the older SG 98 instead of the SG 98/05.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Hallbach guard in the courtyard with a shouldered G98. The typical Lange Visier rear sight is visible. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another guard at the Wintersborn PoW camp with a Gewehr 98. Mauser Karabiner 98AZ At least, one Prison guard can be seen with a Mauser 98AZ Artillery Carbine .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mauser Karabiner 98AZ - 7.92x57mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing The guard running with the carbine during an escape attempt. Note the slot cut in the stock and the stacking hook. Machine Guns Maxim MG 08 Maxim MG08s are used by the Wintersborn prison guards. It is simply called "Maxim" by von Rauffenstein.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maxim MG 08 - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maréchal and de Boeldieu near a Maxim shown by von Rauffenstein. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A view of the barrel and muzzle shield. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another (or possibly the same) Maxim at the castle wall. Chauchat Mle. 1915 An unloaded Chauchat light machine gun is used by a prison guard.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Chauchat Mle. 1915 - 8x50mmR Lebel Error creating thumbnail: File missing The both grips can be seen. The magazine should be where the wooden beam is. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A better view of the rear part. 
