1966, Film: "La Grande Vadrouille"

On 8 December 1966 the French film "La Grande Vadrouille" (English title: "Don't Look Now - We're Being Shot at") is released in France. Directed by Gérard Oury and written by Marcel Jullian it stars Bourvil, Louis de Funès, Marie Dubois and Terry-Thomas.

For over forty years it was the most successful French film in France. It remains the third most successful film ever in France, behind "Titanic" (1997) and "Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis" (2008). A major factor in the film’s success was the top billing of Bourvil and Louis de Funès, the two comedians had previously appeared two years earlier in "Le Corniaud". The two French comic geniuses were joined by the English comic actor Terry-Thomas, who plays one of the English airmen.

Bourvil, Louis de Funès & Terry-Thomas

Synopsis

During World War II, when their combat aircraft is shot down by the Germans, three English airmen parachute to the comparative safety of Nazi occupied France. Peter Cunningham (Claudio Brook) lands on the scaffold of an amiable painter and decorator, Augustin (Bourvil). Alan MacIntosh (Mike Marshall) lands on top of a concert hall and is rescued by the patriotic conductor Stanislas Lefort (Louis de Funès). The third,  Sir Reginald (Terry-Thomas) ends up in the Paris zoo...

Louis de Funès & Bourvil

Louis de Funès

Main cast

• André Bourvil as Augustin Bouvet
• Louis de Funès as Stanislas Lefort
• Terry-Thomas as Sir Reginald
• Claudio Brook as Peter Cunningham
• Mike Marshall as Alan MacIntosh
• Marie Dubois as Juliette
• Pierre Bertin as Juliette's grandfather
• Andrea Parisy as Sister Marie-Odile
• Mary Marquet as Mother Superior
• Benno Sterzenbach as Major Achbach

Bourvil, Marie Dubois, Claudio Brook, Terry-Thomas, Louis de Funès & Mike Marshall

Awards

• David di Donatello Awards, Golden Plate For the production: Robert Dorfmann (1967)
• Golden Screen, Germany (1977)

Trailer