The Army Game

Tire-au-flanc 62, released in English as The Army Game, is a 1961 French black-and-white comedy co-directed by François Truffaut and Claude de Givray. The film follows the induction and basic training of army conscripts, turning the routines and absurdities of military life into farce. It is the fifth screen adaptation of the hit 1904 stage play by André Mouëzy-Éon and André Sylvane, following earlier versions from 1912, 1928 (directed by Jean Renoir), 1933 and 1950. The cast includes Bernadette Lafont and Jean-Claude Brialy, with Mouëzy-Éon also contributing to the screenplay. Arriving at the height of the French New Wave, the picture drew roughly 1.3 million admissions in France, a solid box-office result. Blending barracks humor with a light satirical edge, it remains a notable entry in the long tradition of French military comedies.