La grande vadrouille

And the most popular. Often showed on TV, she has been seen in the cinema by 17 million viewers, absolute record in my country. Bourvil and de Funes, two of the most popular comic actors (dead in 1977 and 1983), rival of good words, jokes and poetics. It was one of the first times that the nazis were turned about ridiculous guignols in the cinema (after "papy fait de la Résistance"). If you love this film, see "le Corniaud".

As everybody in France, I thought I knew this movie by heart. Then last year, I attended a very peculiar evening as a "support" to this movie, which had just been dethroned by "Titanic" at the French all-time box office. It was played as a true cult movie, with various and very funny animations in the theater, wine bottles and camembert passing around… it was the time to discover how this movie still remains a great moment of comedic magic - and your Phaithphul Phrog is pretty jaded on this ground. Funny to see here how people from other countries reacted positively to it too. It was also a great moment with my dear friend Richard "Docteur Roro" Buguet, who died recently from one of those sudden, hated diseases that suddenly snatches somebody from your life (no, not AIDS), somebody which makes you realise, but too late, how important he was in your life. Now I understand my gay friends who suffered the AIDS plague and lost so many good men and women too (even if I'm not gay, but what the hell ?). So long Docteur Roro, who loved movies so much - a part of you will live on the IMDB and in my heart forever - apologies to you readers for taking part of your time with these meanderings, but you know how it is - or will someday, n

I can't say I find the film particularly funny, but it interested me because perhaps it shows the difference between French and British humour. À chacun son goût - to each his own taste - of course, and to my taste the film had too much farce, too much slapstick, and too little subtlety of humour. It was like being hit with a humour-hammer rather than being amused intelligently. I have to confess that I didn't laugh once, nor, as far as I'm aware, even manage to raise a smile. I can't imagine that a film of this type would have been the most popular in the UK for as long as it was in France. I was previously unaware of the work of Bourvil and de Funés (sorry, but their constant over-acting did nothing for me) but I certainly knew of Terry Thomas's films, and he was capable of far better than this. I loved the Burgundy scenery, though, and I was happily transported back to holidays in the Côte d'Or and a visit the old hospital at Beaune.

This was a hilarious movie, I'd imagine even for people who don't speak French. Louis de Funes was great, and the whole movies if definitely one I'm going to see again, just for the sheer fun of it! Bottom line: hilarious, 8/10

This film has the remarkable property that there aren't any boring pieces in it. It just brings you more than 2 hours of top-comedy, together with a fine scenario. The magical trio Louis de Funès, Bourvil and Gérard Oury make this film so unique. If you like this one, be sure to have seen Le Corniaud.

I have been teaching French for more than 20 years and saw this comedy with my 18 year old nephew who is studying French and my sister who knows none. We laughed our silly heads off for two hours. It appeals to young and old, French-speaking and non-French speaking. It is simply hilarious.

One of my favorite movies of all time. Being half french/American I guess I am lucky enough to get the best of both worlds culturally. And this one, just like other great movies of de Funes and Bourvil, makes you smile when the movie ends. I have both such a happy and great feeling after the movie and yet part of me is sad because France lost two of its greatest actors a few decades ago and we miss them both a lot. For those who really want to see how the French think (without the typical generalizations I hear from everyone) about the British (all in humor), the Germans (the french i think will always remember WWII in the back of their minds and part of the population still is not fond of Germans) or just life in general, it's a must see. Tea for two and two for tea. Me and you and you and me. Just love it. Vive la France!

The setting: a British bomber is shot down (due to some navigational errors) above Paris. The crew get separated, and each of them needs the help of a few French people to escape from the occupied city, and eventually to England. Of course, evil Germans persecute them throughout the movie... All of this is a backdrop to a wonderful comedy. It could be compared with Mel Brooks' "To be or not to be", and I believe it comes out the superior of the two. Easily the best Louis de Funes movie ever - and so, perhaps, also the best French comedy ever...

After several years of searching, I have found the French version of the movie "La Grande Vadrouille". I can't count the times I have seen this movie. So I could remember every actors' speech. To my thought, many information lost when it was translated into Chinese. The French version tells more than the history. China is getting more and more international. But what is international, no one can explain clearly. A group of people tells us a story, in English, French and German. To communicate with more people, we should learn more. To build the real market, China should do many things. For example, the language environment. And China must obey the international rules. It will be a long way, before China became a member of the international family.

I saw this great movie everytime I was ill and couldn't go to school, when I was a kid. I've seen it for at least 20 times, and it still make me laugh. I often have the soundtrack for the movie in my head. I love this film, and it is still one of my favourite films!!