Stalag 17

What the name Brad Pitt represents in today's Hollywood, for me, had certainly been the same with William Holden, back in Hollywood of the 50's. Had I been a young girl of that era, I would have had his pictures everywhere. Other than his good looks, I have always admired Brad Pitt for his - yet un-Oscar-ed - acting talent; William Holden had definitely a different style, that suits more to that era, however, in his long career, he did receive one Oscar as best actor in a leading role, Sgt. Sefton, in Stalag 17.

Stalag-17 Theatrical Trailer

It is the longest night of the year in 1944. In a German prisoner-of-war camp named Stalag 17 (Camp 17), two American prisoners attempt to escape, only to be shot the minute they pass to the other side of the barbed wire, by German soldiers waiting for them. Back in the barrack, the other prisoners, finding about the death of their friends, suspect that there is a spy among them and the first that comes to their minds is Sefton (Holden), who is always cynical, cold and impersonal, trading stuff with German officers and not wanting to get involved in any escape plan, believing that there is no escape from Stalag 17. It gets even worse when during the following days every plan made in the barrack is exposed by the Germans or any equipment the prisoners secretly get are found the next day exactly in where they are hidden. Without any other suspect, the whole prisoners put the whole pressure on Sefton, finally beating him badly. By that moment, all Sefton thinks about becomes finding out who the spy is, and when he finally does and reveals him in a very critical night for one of the prisoners, it is someone extremely unexpected.


I had known about Stalag 17 a little prior to watching it and I hesitated for quite a while since all I knew was that it helped Holden win his only Oscar and that it was a war film. To be honest, I was surprised to find out that it was actually a comedy, mixed well with enough drama. It has a very impressive cast, besides Holden, with Otto Preminger, Robert Strauss, Harvey Lembeck and a very young Peter Graves, all with hilarious acting. Some of the scenes of the Germans were shot in German without subtitles intentionally; yet you do understand what is going on with their incredible talented body languages and actings.

The movie has themes such as solidarity, between the prisoners, and betrayal of their trust; furthermore, it also refers to German officers' state of mind, showing that not all of them were after the so-called kampf of Hitler. This is clearly stated in one scene, where the prisoners all disguise themselves as Adolph Hitler with his famous moustache and hair style, to joke around with their barrack's officer, Stulz, and he replies with a weary expression on his face, as One Mein Furher is enough! Certainly, this does not excuse those officers' existence in the war as Führer's soldiers, however, it does ease those harsh times at least a little for the prisoners.



Stalag 17 makes fun of the war in general, World War II to be exact, in a way that calls in common sense and I wonder how many movies it will take to show the idiocy of wars. Yet, it is an enjoyable movie, that could take my attention from Holden to give myself fully to the story; and if I could, you certainly can, too.