 Although several favoured the more bitter and tragic ending, Clair adopted the one that was more delicate and low-key, as being more in keeping with his own manner.Even so, it was the first of his films which "ended badly", and thus marked a departure in his style.The first screening of "Les Grandes Manœuvres" took place in Moscow, on 17 October 1955, as part of the first "French Film Week" (Semaine du cinéma français).