La Grande Vadrouille

In the height of World War ΙΙ, a British plane is shot down by the Germans forcing its three airmen to parachute into various areas of Paris. Two of them fall into the lives of the painter/decorator Augustin Bouvet (Bourvil) and the conductor Stanislas Lefort (Louis de Funès). The pair decides to help the airmen reunite and travel to safety in the ‘free zone’, encountering numerous obstacles and helping hands on the way.

Gérard Oury’s classic comedy is a phenomenon in France, having held the crown as biggest box office success for over 30 years (it remains third on the list of most tickets sold after Titanic and last year’s mega-hit Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis), as well as drawing immense viewing figures on French television to this day. The pairing of two great French comedic actors, Bourvil and Funès, was a formula for instant success and the film’s deft mix of visual, physical and verbal humour is a feat, which has been rarely matched since.

The lavish production and attention to detail is striking. This is quality big budget brilliance that deserves far greater recognition across international waters.