Among English-language reviewers , there was consistency in their appreciation of Clair 's wit and the visual elegance of his use of colour on the one hand , but on the other a disappointment at his perceived failure to bring sufficient emotional engagement to the film 's later scenes . In the words of one British review , '' Les Grandes Manœuvres '' was " an exceptionally finished and civilised entertainment and not the least of its assets is the impeccable taste with which Clair , for the first time , manipulates colour " ; but , " in negotiating the change to a serious ending , the film is less than wholly satisfactory " . Another said , " The film begins beautifully ... The gently stylised movements , the light and even rhythm , set Clair 's own personal tone of comedy ... . Later developments , however , demand more than he seems prepared to give ... it fails to convey human passions suddenly taking over . " This was echoed by an American reviewer : " Clair has shown true artistry in his use of pastel and vivid hues to capture even the nuances of dress , décor and elegance of a pre-World War I garrison town .... The film is a fragile and compassionate but rarely moving delineation of the grand passion . " An Irish review agreed that , " Rene Clair 's '' Summer Manoeuvres '' is anything but a deeply " committed " film , and survives chiefly for its evocation of period .... The film does not quite compass the violent change from manners to passion ... " . A more sympathetic summary appeared in '' The Times '' : " '' Les Grandes Manoeuvres '' is a sigh for lost youth , for a lost generation , and for , perhaps , '' l'amour '' , as against love , and its only failing is that , in enchanting the senses , it fails to touch the heart . " In 1974 , the film was given an out-of-competition screening at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
1974 Cannes Film Festival
The Grand Maneuver