The Grand Maneuver

Original title: Les grandes manoeuvres

1955
1h 46m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

A French lieutenant makes a bet that he can seduce any woman in town in the two weeks before his regiment leaves for maneuvers, but his chosen target (a Parisian divorcée) isn't like other g... Read allA French lieutenant makes a bet that he can seduce any woman in town in the two weeks before his regiment leaves for maneuvers, but his chosen target (a Parisian divorcée) isn't like other girls he's known.A French lieutenant makes a bet that he can seduce any woman in town in the two weeks before his regiment leaves for maneuvers, but his chosen target (a Parisian divorcée) isn't like other girls he's known.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

1.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 wins & 1 nomination

Trivia
French censorship visa #16.679.

Quotes
Gisèle Monnet: I waited all night for you. France can wait a few minutes.

Alternate versions
A darker alternate ending was shot and is included on the UK DVD: riding off to the manoeuvres, Armand sees Mdme Rivière's window is open and smiles, believing he is forgiven. The camera then cranes up to the window - where we see the maid discovering Madme Riviere's dead body in bed.

Connections
Featured in Legends of World Cinema: Brigitte Bardot

Soundtracks
Si tu m'Aimais
Music by Georges Van Parys
Lyrics by René Clair
Performed by Magali Noël

User reviews14

Review

Featured review

7/10

Interesting film from a visual stand-point.

I admit, I was not very big in this film for the most part of it. But hey, is very good from a visual standpoint. We have very unexpected angles and a weird set of lights. Look at how messy the lights are in this film. It helps even more to put focus in the characters. In fact, it alone put a focus in the characters, because they become darken than the set's natural light. And the plot is kinda ugh, you know what I mean? Very cliché. Sure, back in 1955, this kind of 'Guy wants to date girl because of bet with friend" must have been interesting and very original, but nowadays? Not very much, if you ask me. Maybe this is the film that started all these clichés? Well, I don't know, further research is welcomed. But anyway, the editing, the transition of scenes is very crazy, and certainly a very good technique aesthetically talking. This technique alone can change completely the film's ambient.

Is kinda interesting and even funny at times, but yeah, for the most part there is nothing that you already haven't seen before made much better than in this film.