Rookies Go to War

1974 1h 30m FR

😐

6.1

MID

★6.1TMDB · 86

Comedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A Grand Slapstick comedy about four buddies serving in the army. Their long-suffering sergeant attempts to whip them into shape but the conflict spirals out of control.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Gérard Rinaldi
Gérard
Jean Sarrus
Jean
Gérard Filipelli
Phil
Jean-Guy Fechner
Jean-Guy
Jacques Seiler
Sergent Bellec
Marisa Merlini
Paulette Brugnon
Heidy Bohlen
La psychologue
Paolo Stoppa
Le Colonel

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Claude Zidi
Writers: Jean Bouchaud, Jean-Paul Farré, Claude Zidi
Languages: French
Countries: France, Italy, Germany

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

52 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: France, Italy, Germany.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Part of the "Les Charlots - Saga" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Claude Zidi, shot by Paul Bonis. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Paul Plot. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Yvette Bastide shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Gérard Rinaldi and Jean Sarrus and Gérard Filipelli carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Claude Zidi directs. Paul Bonis behind the camera. Paul Plot scores. Yvette Bastide cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in France, Italy, Germany. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
252 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3International production across 3 countries: France, Italy, Germany.
4Part of the "Les Charlots - Saga" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
5Directed by Claude Zidi, shot by Paul Bonis. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Paul Plot. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Yvette Bastide shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Gérard Rinaldi and Jean Sarrus and Gérard Filipelli carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt0071214 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 86 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.