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The Elusive Corporal

Play trailer Poster for The Elusive Corporal 1962,  1h 48m,  Comedy/ Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 89% 9 Reviews Tomatometer 86% 250+ Ratings Popcornmeter
89% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
During World War II, a captured French corporal (Jean-Pierre Cassel) finds himself transferred to a prison in Germany, which he attempts to escape several times. After one such failure, he is reunited with his friend Ballochet (Claude Rich), who in claiming to be a translator, not a soldier, has been treated much better by the Germans. Though tempted to give up on escaping, the corporal finds his resolve renewed by a German dentist's daughter, who has come to love him for his resilience.

Critics Reviews

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Time Out Jan 26, 2006
This late addition to Renoir's impressively wide-ranging oeuvre is nevertheless suffused with the same warm and generous humanism as the great Règle du Jeu or Grande Illusion. Go to Full Review
Bosley Crowther New York Times May 10, 2005
3/5
Tthe trace of philosophical implication makes it worth more than lightly passing through. Go to Full Review
Don Druker Chicago Reader Jan 1, 2000
An ironic comedy of fake French heroics and real French heroism, the film is delicate and witty and features a delightful performance from Jean-Pierre Cassel. Go to Full Review
Dwight MacDonald Esquire Magazine May 9, 2019
Jean Renoir gives us the World War II equivalent of his Grand Illusion, and how have the mighty fallen! Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Jan 6, 2011
B
Follows along the lines of the director's The Grand Illusion, but without that film's depth. Go to Full Review
Sean Axmaker Turner Classic Movies Online Apr 26, 2007
The tone is light and the repeated escape attempts are played with a comic undertone, yet behind the humor is the feeling of dignity lost... Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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George W Feb 24, 2018 Jean Renoir's comedy of irony is enjoyable, but not one of his best.
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The Elusive Corporal

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Cast & Crew

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Jean Renoir

Director

Jean-Pierre Cassel

Le caporal

Claude Brasseur

"Papa"

Claude Rich

Ballochet

O.E. Hasse

Le voyageur ivre dans le train

Jacques Jouanneau

Penche-à-gauche

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The Elusive Corporal

The Elusive Corporal (1962) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis During World War II, a captured French corporal (Jean-Pierre Cassel) finds himself transferred to a prison in Germany, which he attempts to escape several times. After one such failure, he is reunited with his friend Ballochet (Claude Rich), who in claiming to be a translator, not a soldier, has been treated much better by the Germans. Though tempted to give up on escaping, the corporal finds his resolve renewed by a German dentist's daughter, who has come to love him for his resilience.
Director
Jean Renoir
Screenwriter
Jean Renoir
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
French (France)
Runtime
1h 48m
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