La Grande Illusion

Movie Poster

Country	France
Directed by	Jean Renoir
Release Date	June 8, 1937
Language	English French German Russian
Distributor	World Pictures

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Lieutenant Maréchal	Jean Gabin
Lieutenant Rosenthal	Marcel Dalio
Captain de Boeldieu	Pierre Fresnay
Major von Rauffenstein	Erich von Stroheim
Elsa	Dita Parlo

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.

Screen used M1911 pistol (Hero Gun) carried and used by Sam Elliott as Command Sergeant Major Basil Plumley in We Were Soldiers - .45 ACP

The Colt on von Rauffenstein's table.

He holds his Colt after taking it from his Luger holster...

"Halt!"
..., takes aim at de Boeldieu...

... and fires.

Another angle of the pistol.

FN Model 1900

An FN Model 1900 pistol lies on another table.

FN Model 1900 - .32 ACP

The pistol on the edge of the table.

Revolvers

MAS Mle. 1892

An Mle 1892 Revolver is seen next to the pistol.

Modele d’Ordonnance Mle 1892 Revolver

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.

Webley Mk. IV - .455 Webley

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.

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.

Gewehr 1888/05 - 7.92x57mm.

A Prison guard on the right with his shouldered Gewehr during the arrival at the Hallbach P.o.W. camp.

An old guard with a fixed Seitengewehr SG 98 bayonet.

Another Gew. 88/05 with SG 98 bayonet in the hands of the guard of Maréchal (Jean Gabin).

The same guard outside the solitary confinement cell.

Prison guard fires his rifle at the fleeing de Boeldieu.

German soldiers with 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 on the left.

The left soldier lowers his rifle what 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.