La Grande Vadrouille

If asked what film would be considered France's comedic masterpiece I would (like many in the UK) suggest one of Tati's superb outings, probably selecting 'Monsieur Hulot's Holiday' as the greatest triumph of all. Whereas the French may be more inclined to suggest 'La Grande Vadrouille' (aka Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At!) which paired Bourvil and Louis de Funes, easily the most popular comedy performers in France at the time of the film's release in 1966.  17 million people turned up in France's cinemas to see the film, a record unsurpassed in the nation until 'Titanic' was released many years later. Of course, popularity and box office success shouldn't be the final arbiter of comedic achievement ('On the Buses', the first movie spin-off of the 70's series was, after all, the most popular UK comedy on record at the time of its release) but it is a fair indicator of taste. But just because 'La Grande Vadrouille' falls short of Tati's masterpiece doesn't diminish the fact that this is a thoroughly enjoyable comedy in its own right. And as a curious bonus it also boasts our very own Terry Thomas in one of the lead roles.


Set during World War II it centers on three English airmen including the handle-bar mustachioed Sir Reginald (Terry Thomas). After coming under enemy fire their map gets damaged and they find themselves flying over Nazi occupied central Paris where they come under fire. When their bomber gets hit again they have no choice but to parachute down into the city. One lands on the scaffold of an amiable painter (Bourvil), another on top of a concert hall and is rescued by the conductor Stanislas Lefort (played brilliantly by Louis De Funes, delivering visual performances so animated that one would normally associate with silent cinema)  - and the third straight into an otter enclosure in a Parisian zoo. Of course the Germans have spotted the parachutes and are on the look-out for the men who all get help from the plucky French (in a pre-cursor to the dreadful Brit-com, 'Allo Allo'). Augsutin and Stanlias are thrown together when they try to help the airmen make an agreed rendezvous, and soon they too become targets for the Germans. Assisted by an anti-German Nun and a puppeteer's daughter the two accompany the airmen across France towards a neutral zone and out of harm's way.


It's all great fun and was a great vehicle to let the French revisit the occupation with humour as well as a reminder that, whilst France did fall to the Germans, resistance continued throughout the occupation. It's quite something to consider that barely 20 years had passed since the war ended when such humour was everywhere in the West. ('Hogan's Heroes' came out at around this time, as well as Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In with the Nazi officer a firm regular).


Despite the subtitles, this is such a formulaic farce, with so much visual humour, that you will soon find yourself laughing out loud. It's also just enormous fun in the way that this style of madcap road comedy generally is. In some ways (don't ask me why ...maybe it's the inclusion of Terry Thomas) it reminded me of other 'big' movies of the time like 'Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines' and 'Monte Carlo or Bust'.  Just uncomplicated fun with a journey to keep things moving nicely. It also feels like a big budget film, not something that you would expect to have come out of France at the time, and despite being filmed on location much of the time, it feels like a convincing period piece and not something born out of the swinging sixties.


Claude Renoir's cinematography looks very classy with rich colours and first class grading. It's nicely represented on this DVD too with a really first-class transfer, perhaps the best you will have seen it (presuming you have never seen it at the cinema of course).

This was the first time I've seen the film as it shown so rarely on UK TV though it's a staple of national French TV, which is easy to imagine. It has all the qualities of a damn good Sunday afternoon movie.


Though I'm not a great advocate of superfluous extras on discs (I particularly hate sycophantic cast and crew commentaries and 'making of' documentaries intent on spoiling the magic, as well as the showing of deleted scenes that should have stayed that way) but...a good studious academic commentary would have been very welcome. However, there is nothing to see here but the film...and a trailer for that film.

For fans of classic comedy, and Terry Thomas completists, or indeed for anyone looking for a couple of hours of first class escapism, I thoroughly recommend this release.