Stalag 17

Director Billy Wilder had an exceptionally long career in the movie industry and it would be true to say that he was a director/writer who appeared to have made an absolute gem of a picture in almost every genre. It is no different with POW comedy Stalag 17, a movie that scored various award nominations, including an Oscar for its star William Holden.

Ostensibly, a film about a German prison camp wouldn’t appear to have much going for it. The first word that springs to mind is depressing. How wrong can one be! The Stalag in questions held thousands of prisoners from various nations, however, 17 was the American contingent. Enter J. Sefton (William Holden), the kind of guy who is always coming up with an angle to make some money and has various little side-lines going on, all of which line his pockets rather well. This guy even smokes Havanas! Obviously he is not overtly liked by his fellow prisoner – but would they do without him? Almost from the start we know there is a ‘stoolie’ in the camp who is tipping off the Krauts about what the inmates are up to and plan on doing next. Early on in the film two prisoners are shot attempting to escape, second after just getting under the fence. Clearly the German officers have been tipped off. It isn’t long before the prisoners suspect the rather too obvious Sefton, though we know better. So just who is it then?

This film doesn’t flag a jot and is brilliantly cast all ‘round. How often do you see a film where you can say that? We have a host of great characters here, in particular Stanislas ‘Animal’ Kuzawa (Robert Strauss) and Harry Shapiro (Harvey Lembeck) who treat us to a hilarious double-act throughout. Laurel & Hardy couldn’t have done it better! Indeed, ‘Animal’ practically steals the show as the lovable dope who is hopelessly besotted with Hollywood actress Betty Grable. For his portrayal of ‘Animal’ Robert Strauss got nominated for an Academy Award. As for Holden, he is simply Sefton to a tee. The crafty but funny German guard Sergeant Schulz (Sig Ruman, who worked with the Marx Brothers) is indeed well realised on two levels. In an inspired piece of casting on Wilder’s part we have a near chilling performance (filled with neat little touches) from director Otto Preminger as the camp Colonel von Scherbach.

The piece was based on a stage play by two former inmates of the real Stalag 17, one of whom appears in the film under his real name Edmund ‘I believe it’ Trzcinski. Wilder adapted this with screenwriter Edwin Blum and did a fine job of fleshing it out… as a ‘thank you’ he got nominated for an Academy Award. The iconic soundtrack by THE Franz Waxman (Bride of Frankenstein, Sunset Boulevard) befits the story only to well. Plaudits all ‘round here for making a very entertaining light comedy out of very serious subject matter! Stalag 17 still looks good after over 60 years, not least thanks to this gloriously restored Blu-ray version.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Gorgeous 1080p presentation of the film on Blu-ray
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• New video interview with film scholar Neil Sinyard
• Original theatrical trailer
• 36-page booklet containing an essay, interview material, and rare archival imagery