Stalag 17 (1953)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Reid V

  
  A bit silly for WIlder, but overall a great film. Also, Preminger as the Nazi guard...doesn't get much better

• AJ V

  
  This is one of my favourite movies from Wilder, it's a subject that's close to his heart, and is still in the memories of many people: WWII concentration camps. This movie is about a POW camp really, but it's still related to that theme. Anyway, it balances dark… More
  This is one of my favourite movies from Wilder, it's a subject that's close to his heart, and is still in the memories of many people: WWII concentration camps. This movie is about a POW camp really, but it's still related to that theme. Anyway, it balances dark comedy and drama so delicately and brilliantly I loved it.

• Chris W

  
  This wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be, as in I wasn't expecting humor, but even thoug hthe portrayal of POW camp life is sanitized in this movie, I really liked it. I liked the suspense of waiting to find out who the spy was. The acting is great. Holden is… More
  This wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be, as in I wasn't expecting humor, but even thoug hthe portrayal of POW camp life is sanitized in this movie, I really liked it. I liked the suspense of waiting to find out who the spy was. The acting is great. Holden is brilliant, as is Robert Strauss. Not that they should, but if this movie gets remade, my vote is for Brad Garrett to play Animal. I think he'd be perfect. This is a highly entertaining, and brilliantly written and directed film that is definitely worth seeing.

• Mark H

  
  Absorbing drama about American POWs in a German World War II camp. Apparently, someone amongst the prisoners is a traitor, but who? Fascinating assortment of characters exhibit real camaraderie. Although there is an expected gravity underlying the proceedings, never before has a POW… More
  Absorbing drama about American POWs in a German World War II camp. Apparently, someone amongst the prisoners is a traitor, but who? Fascinating assortment of characters exhibit real camaraderie. Although there is an expected gravity underlying the proceedings, never before has a POW camp been enlivened by so much humor. Even legendary film director Otto Preminger as the evil camp commander, appears humorously benevolent. In the hands of a lesser director, the mix of comedy and drama would be jarring, but writer-director Billy Wilder flawlessly adapts the 1951 Broadway play with a discerning eye. Actor William Holden is also brilliant as the cynical and self centered prisoner, J.J. Sefton, ostracized for the preferential treatment he receives from the enemy. It's a brilliant achievement that earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. His portrayal anchors a film already overflowing with brilliant performances.

• Mister C

  
  The unofficial inspiration for the 1960's television series "Hogan's Heroes",director Billy Wilder's 1953 comedy-drama remains one of the screen's most memorable war stories which is set in a P.O.W. concentration camp during World War II. William Holden… More
  The unofficial inspiration for the 1960's television series "Hogan's Heroes",director Billy Wilder's 1953 comedy-drama remains one of the screen's most memorable war stories which is set in a P.O.W. concentration camp during World War II. William Holden won the Oscar for Best Actor for his riveting performance as a P.O.W. officer who can bargain with his German captors-but his wits can only take him so far when he is suspected of overt action against the enemy,selling out his fellow prisoners in the process. Also to note,filmmaker Otto Preminger proves his acting ability in the picture as well(also was Oscar nominated in 1953 for Best Supporting Actor)playing the head commandant of the German concentration camp. Along for the ride,comedy and suspense are Don Taylor, Peter Graves, Neville Brand, and Robert Strauss. Running Time: 127 minutes. This film is not rated. Shot in glorious black and white.

• moon r

  
  okay yeah, there was a war, with fighting, and death, and prisoners of war, and then there were movies about all of that. wilder throws all that in because it's expected...but why not take a look at an off-limits subject as well, namely: american men, and w/o the typical dame… More
  okay yeah, there was a war, with fighting, and death, and prisoners of war, and then there were movies about all of that. wilder throws all that in because it's expected...but why not take a look at an off-limits subject as well, namely: american men, and w/o the typical dame thrown in to gum up the perspective with all of that sticky, changing-their-mind estrogen stuff. and thus wilder's movie, a boy's backyard fantasy sure about tuff guys in war ("this time i want to be the spy!") tinly masking an examination of said tuff guys (think: "the women" only not), and what they're really made of...

• xGary X

  
  When a self-serving operator in a WWII prison camp is suspected of collaboration with the enemy, he is forced to uncover the true culprit. Another of Billy Wilder's cynical classics, there is a lot more humour in the material than you would think. In fact it is often so broad it… More
  When a self-serving operator in a WWII prison camp is suspected of collaboration with the enemy, he is forced to uncover the true culprit. Another of Billy Wilder's cynical classics, there is a lot more humour in the material than you would think. In fact it is often so broad it can resemble an extended episode of Sgt. Bilko, full of fast paced wise-cracking and army camaraderie. It is Holden's character of course that provides the real drama, and he plays it pitch perfectly. Unlike most prisoner of war films that are full of stiff upper lipped heroics, his cynical attitude never wavers and the sharp, witty dialogue makes for some fine black comedy. Easily one of the best examples of the genre.

• Ken S

  
  One of the best WW2 films of all time. Holden and Wilder create a humanistic portrayal of POW life. A mix of black comedy and mystery that is engaging from minute one.

• Veronique K

  
  "stalag 17" is one of the numberous billy wilder's collaborations with william holden whose stardom was literarily revived by wilder's proper guidance in "sunset blvd." the key point to induce this flick's success is its willingness of… More
  "stalag 17" is one of the numberous billy wilder's collaborations with william holden whose stardom was literarily revived by wilder's proper guidance in "sunset blvd." the key point to induce this flick's success is its willingness of self-parody tinted with wilder's trademark socialistic black humor instead of the blind-folded patriotism surrounded in this genre. holden plays sefton, a self-made egoistic capistalist in pow (prisoner of war) camp stalag 17, a scrivener who disregards his compatriots' suffering, squeezing out every opossible trading coin out of his fellowman to gurantee himself a better living of materials. his selfishness rouses the jealous hostilities of his fellow prisoners, thus he becomes the suspect no. 1 of traitor when their beloved war hero gets scrunitized by the germany. this pow camp is the epitome of american society in second war, and it sneers at the blunt naivety of the american crowd wallowing in their americanistic heroism, and their insistancy on stupitified patriotic integrity...and those points are uttered by holden's sefton. sefton dismisses their attempted bravery to break loose of the camp with one comment "i'm no expert of escape, the odds are not good for me"...he contempts their futile brotherhood by profitting from his fellowmen's death thru gamblings. sefton has no actual faith upon any patriotic idealism since he realizes he's on his own as the pow. he's a lone wolf (or weasel?) who pays no respect on the army ethicities, and his moral stance is in obscurity, determined to carry on his life of comfort despite the severe contempts from his fellow prisoners. as a capitalist, he resents the heroic general's luxuriant upbringings with his bitter admonition "here you're on your own, no family wealth would back you up!" at the scene that the whole camp of pow beat sefton into brutal bruises, it proves again: democracy is sometimes just a mob. they punish sefton just becuz their long-lurked private grudges toward him, and it stands for the american commoners' rooted prejudices toward the wealthy who makes his fortune by brain. the turning point of the flick is sefton's wrongly accused treason, and he strives to reclaim his innocence thru his observant wits to spot the true undercovered traitor. then the disagreeable sefton gains audience's pathos, and meanwhile he shows great scale of his shrewd wisdom which is superior to any of his fellow american. under his capable hand, sefton reverses the possible catastrope in the camp and also obtains himself a perfect chance to regain his freedom. suddenly the egoist sefton turns out to be the intelligently admirable pow hero...but the real issue would be: does sefton salvage this mission out of his loyalty to his nation or he just wanna retaliate his own framed injustice? maybe a little bit both or just the latter. eventually he still remains an egoist who just carelessly does his countrymen a favor? the main comic relief would be the character beast's drooling obssession over pin-up star betty grable as well as his silly horniness to intrude the russian female camp. "stalag 17" is the most engrossing movie made upon the war army subject ever since it's immune from the dreary pragmatism of nationalism and brotherhood which require tescticles to appreciate. it presents us a hero who is not so hero-alike, an ambigous anti-hero who chooses to do the right thing at last moment.

• Michael G

  
  This movie can kick The Great Escape's ass.

• Lanning :

  
  Although Holden won the best actor Oscar for his portrayal of the fast-and-loose Sefton, the weight of this movie, for me, pales in comparison to, say, <i>The Bridges at Toko-Ri</i>. Don't get me wrong, Holden is excellent in this, although if I'd been voting… More
  Although Holden won the best actor Oscar for his portrayal of the fast-and-loose Sefton, the weight of this movie, for me, pales in comparison to, say, <i>The Bridges at Toko-Ri</i>. Don't get me wrong, Holden is excellent in this, although if I'd been voting that year, Lancaster would have had mine for his work in <i>From Here to Eternity.</i> Still, this is definitely worth seeing.

• Jason V

  
  Could've and should've been so much better. http://bit.ly/fvHhi5

• Ivan D

  
  Perfectly balanced World War II film(or a POW film to be more specific), with the elements of comedy and drama contrasting and merging at the same time to great effect. On one hand, the whole humorous tone of the film was incredibly, almost single-handedly carried by the characters of… More
  Perfectly balanced World War II film(or a POW film to be more specific), with the elements of comedy and drama contrasting and merging at the same time to great effect. On one hand, the whole humorous tone of the film was incredibly, almost single-handedly carried by the characters of Shapiro and Animal(Harvey Lembeck and Robert Strauss, respectively). While the complex tone of human spirit and survival against all odds flawlessly embodied by William Holden(in an Oscar-winning performance) as J.J. Sefton on the other. In the expansive magnitude of films such as those of the war genre, it's very rare for a picture of this kind to play with the "whodunit" plot device. But the screenplay(based on a theatrical play) has brought the film into its revelatory climax without being very obvious of what(or who)it is pertaining to. Besides its thrilling suspense and trivial comedy contained throughout as it heads into a surprise ending, "Stalag 17" also shows the side of soldiers unblemished even by captivity; that of their extreme devotion of preserving a much-admired "war hero"(Lt. Dunbar) from certain death. But once they looked at J.J. Sefton with disdain and brow-raising judgments, both to his stance, his cigarette-trading antics, and their hunch of him being a "stoolie", they never were aware that they're looking at yet another hero. He conforms with his captors, he's a loner in their ranks, but his ultimate gallantry's what really counted.

• Doctor S

  
  <i>"Nobody has ever escaped from Stalag 17!"</i> The grandaddy of all wartime prison movies, and whaddaya know, it's still one of the best. Also surely one of the first movies to incorprate large doses of humor into a film set during WW II. It's… More
  <i>"Nobody has ever escaped from Stalag 17!"</i> The grandaddy of all wartime prison movies, and whaddaya know, it's still one of the best. Also surely one of the first movies to incorprate large doses of humor into a film set during WW II. It's M*A*S*H 20 years before M*A*S*H followed in its combat-booted comedy/drama footsteps, and set in a POW camp instead of an army hospital. I didn't realize Billy Wilder was behind both the camera and the script until his presence was announced during the opening credits,a revelation that gave me high expectations which he fully met. The large cast is strong and scattered with familiar faces (even incorporating Dean Chalmers from 'Three's Company!') Sig Rumann shines as the good-natured Nazi (see, I told you) named Schultz who would be deliberately imitated in 'Hogan's Heroes.' WIlliam Holden is fine in the lead scoundrel role, but not really Oscar caliber even though he took home the trophy. He rarely showed much range during his early-thru-mid career and is pretty much the same Holden here as you often see him. The plottings of the POWs are constantly undermined by a suspected spy in their midst and the reveal was not who I was expecting. FIlled with colorful moments like when chief warden Otto Preminger pulls on his boots so he can click his heels while speaking on the phone to Berlin. I still rate 'The Great Escape' a shade higher for its equally memorable characters, recounting of a true story, and the nerve-jangling final act. The only aspect holding 'Stalag 17' back from a 5-star rating is the overused and overplayed prisoners Harry and Animal. They have a LOT of screen time and sometimes their antics, like their scheme to get inside the Russian women's compound, pushes the film into Laurel & Hardy shtick which doesn't fit with the rest of the comedy. That's a minor point, keeps the film from a perfect score but still remains one of the best prison or war movies ever made.

• Jared H

  
  This movie's friggin G. The script is so tight and so well-thought out, and there's tons of suspense going on here.Tie that in with some cool characters and some quirky comedic scenes, and you've got yourself a show. I can't imagine any of the other POW movies… More
  This movie's friggin G. The script is so tight and so well-thought out, and there's tons of suspense going on here.Tie that in with some cool characters and some quirky comedic scenes, and you've got yourself a show. I can't imagine any of the other POW movies being as good as this one.

• Tom S

  
  Such levity in a POW camp is at times hard to accept, but the humor is coupled with dark undertones in a way that only Wilder can pull off ("I believe it...I believe it!"). William Holden has never played a cooler character.

Read all 16 featured audience ratings