'' La Grande Illusion '' , released by World Pictures Corporation in the U.S. premiered on 12 September 1938 in New York City ; Frank S. Nugent in his review for '' The New York Times '' . called '' La Grande Illusion '' a " strange and interesting film " that " owes much to his cast " , '' La Grande Illusion '' won the awards for Best Foreign Film at the 1938 New York Film Critics Circle Awards and at the 1938 National Board of Review Awards it was named the Best Foreign Language Film , for that year . At the 11th Academy Awards held on 23 February 1939 , '' La Grande Illusion '' became the first foreign language film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture
11th Academy Awards
11th Academy Awards
La Grande Illusion