The Seventh Company Outdoors (1977)

Very well executed

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

French film 'The Seventh Company Outdoors' is the last film of the seventh company series.This series was launched in 1973 with the making of "Mais Où Est Donc Passée La Septième Compagnie ?".As far as this film is concerned,one might receive mixed reactions from viewers.On the one hand there might be viewers who like this film for bringing the action from the forests into the personal lives of the ordinary people.One cannot ignore the fact that the threat level present in the film is genuine as the story takes place in the times of war.On the other hand there might also be viewers who are ready to view this film as a simple, intellectual exercise in narrating an entertaining tale of three French soldiers who get separated from their army.There are moments in this film where it becomes a complete family affair.For example : There is a brother who is not liked by his sister's husband.Actor Gérard Jugnot is perfect in his role as a French man who makes secret arrangements to hide a resistance fighter. Finally,more than a military film,'The Seventh Company outdoors" is an adventure film where Germans continue to be depicted as idiots.

I have always been a fan of the French 60s and 70s comedies, they clearly show the fact that loads of explicit violence and foul language are not necessary to make a movie "funny".In my opinion, the adventures of the Seventh Company definitely belong to the best comedy films ever made, they are exactly that kind of movies that always cheers you up when you feel unhappy. I really cannot understand why the rating of this trilogy is so low, for the adventures of Chaudard, Pithivier and Tassin are witty, somewhat silly (and comedies should be somewhat silly, when you want to watch a dark piece - and to be honest, the comedies of nowadays are either dark pieces, or indecent trash films - you can always go and watch for example the Silence of the Lambs, or the Godfather - the great films of another, kind of "darkish" kind) and most enjoyable.I have to emphasize the performances of Pierre Mondy, Jean Lefebvre and Henri Guybet (Aldo Maccione made a great Tassin (in the first part of trilogy) as well), have you ever seen any actors who were so natural when playing their parts? You can easily believe these actors were their characters!!! It's a real must-see, a true gem among the comedies!

One of the utmost exciting cinematographic experiences one can have, regarding the use of editing and the one of music, that challenge Kubrick. It also benefits from the breakthrough created by Resnais with "l'année dernière à Marienbad" and "je t'aime je t'aime", all along with the lessons of Godard's work. Definitely pure genius.

How could i describe such a great film that brings Mr. Kubrick (Paths of Glory), and Mr. Mallick (The Thin Red Line) to the rank of lame amateurs. A photography belonging to the great French school of the 70s, with influence of Alain Resnais but also Gérard Oury (in his best days), a breathless casting which has nothing to envy to D-Day all along with much deeper of human splendour. We do not understand why Pierre Mondy has not been given an Oscar for his heartbreaking performance in the acting of the indian swimming. Unforgettable! An absolute must see!!