Orson Welles said of this undisputed masterpiece, "If I had to save one film in the world, it would Grand Illusion." During World War I, two French soldiers — an aristocrat (Pierre Fresnay) and a mechanic (Jean Gabin) — are captured and imprisoned in a German POW camp. Several escape attempts follow until they are sent to a seemingly impenetrable fortress commanded by Captaine von Rauffenstein (Erich von Stroheim).