Ace of Aces

1982 1h 40m FR

👍

7.1

SOLID

★7.1TMDB · 361

AdventureComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In this action comedy the French boxer Jo Cavalier is charmed on the train to Berlin for the Olympics in Hitler's Germany by the little boy Simon Rosenblum who asks his autograph; when it turns out his adorable young fan is a Jewish orphan in danger of persecution, he risks his one shot at Olympic glory to save Simon and his family, helped only by a German officer-gentleman who became his friend in World War I, by an adventurous escape to Switzerland, Nazi troops on their heals and braving impossible odds in roller coaster-style.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Jean-Paul Belmondo
Jo Cavalier
Marie-France Pisier
Gaby Delcourt
Rachid Ferrache
Simon Rosenblum
Frank Hoffmann
Gunther von Beckman
Günter Meisner
Adolf Hitler / Angela Hitler
Benno Sterzenbach
Major Aschbach, Gestapo officer
Yves Pignot
Lucien
Florent Pagny
Boxer

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Gérard Oury
Writers: Gérard Oury, Danièle Thompson
Languages: French
Countries: France, 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 / 7

ERA

Did you know

44 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: France, Germany.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Gérard Oury, shot by Xaver Schwarzenberger. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Jean-Paul Belmondo and Marie-France Pisier and Rachid Ferrache carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0083580 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Gérard Oury directs. Xaver Schwarzenberger behind the camera. Vladimir Cosma scores. Albert Jurgenson cuts. Produced in France, Germany. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

144 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2International production across 2 countries: France, Germany.
3Directed by Gérard Oury, shot by Xaver Schwarzenberger. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Vladimir Cosma. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Albert Jurgenson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Jean-Paul Belmondo and Marie-France Pisier and Rachid Ferrache carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0083580 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Released under 13 different titles around the world.