IMDb >
Stalag 17 (1953)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsStalag 17 (1953) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 25 | slideshow) | Videos |
          |
|
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
10 August 1953 (Brazil)
more
Tagline:
Hilarious, heart-tugging! You'll laugh...you'll cry...you'll cheer William Holden in his great Academy Award role! (from reissue print ad)
Plot:
When two escaping American World War II prisoners are killed, the German POW camp barracks black marketeer, J.J. Sefton, is suspected of being an informer. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 4 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Walk Of Fame Honour For Mission: Impossible Star
(From WENN. 23 October 2009, 6:26 PM, PDT)
Old Ass Movies: Escape ‘Stalag 17′
(From FilmSchoolRejects. 13 September 2009, 11:17 AM, PDT)
(From WENN. 23 October 2009, 6:26 PM, PDT)
Old Ass Movies: Escape ‘Stalag 17′
(From FilmSchoolRejects. 13 September 2009, 11:17 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Absorbing & Very Entertaining
more (101 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | William Holden | ... | Sgt. J.J. Sefton |
 | Don Taylor | ... | Lt. James Dunbar |
| Otto Preminger | ... | Col. von Scherbach |
| Robert Strauss | ... | Stanislas Kasava |
| Harvey Lembeck | ... | Harry Shapiro |
| Richard Erdman | ... | Sgt. 'Hoffy' Hoffman |
| Peter Graves | ... | Price |
| Neville Brand | ... | Duke |
| Sig Ruman | ... | Sgt. Johann Schulz |
| Michael Moore | ... | Manfredi |
| Peter Baldwin | ... | Johnson |
| Robinson Stone | ... | Joey |
| Robert Shawley | ... | 'Blondie' Peterson |
| William Pierson | ... | Marko the Mailman |
 | Gil Stratton | ... | Clarence Harvey 'Cookie' Cook (as Gil Stratton Jr.) |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
120 min | Germany:116 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
West Germany:16 (f) |
Australia:G |
South Korea:12 (2004) |
Finland:K-16 |
Norway:12 |
UK:PG |
USA:Approved (PCA #15866) |
Sweden:15
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
This film was one of the biggest hits of Billy Wilder's career. He expected a big piece of the profits. The studio accountants informed him that since his last picture Ace in the Hole (1951) lost money, the money that picture lost would be subtracted from his profits on this film. Wilder left Paramount shortly after that.
more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): We learn from the escape plan in the beginning of the movie that the Stalag 17 prison camp is located on the river Danube near Linz, which is on the Austrian and German Border. Later in the movie, when the prisoners are watching the women in the Russian compound, Cookie claims that on a clear day, you could see the Swiss Alps with this telescope. Nobody could see the Swiss Alps with even the best telescope, from this point of view, because the Austrian Alps would definitely be in the way.
more
Quotes:
Geneva man:
[a Red Cross official is inspecting the camp just after Sefton was beaten on suspicion being an enemy informant. The official sees his injuries] What happened to you? Were you beaten?
[Sefton doesn't answer]
Geneva man: Why don't you answer?
[to the German officer escorting him]
Geneva man: What did you do to this man?
Sefton: They didn't do nothing.
Geneva man: Who beat you?
Sefton: Nobody beat me. We were playing pinochle. It's a rough game.
more
[Sefton doesn't answer]
Geneva man: Why don't you answer?
[to the German officer escorting him]
Geneva man: What did you do to this man?
Sefton: They didn't do nothing.
Geneva man: Who beat you?
Sefton: Nobody beat me. We were playing pinochle. It's a rough game.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Devil's Rejects (2005)
more
Soundtrack:
When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again
more
FAQ
A Note Regarding SpoilersHow much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
Is "Stalag 17" based on a novel?
more
more (101 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Stalag 17 (1953) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| The Great Escape | Empire of the Sun | Hart's War | The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp | Albert R.N. |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb top 250 movies | IMDb Comedy section |
| IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |
This absorbing and very entertaining movie creates a believable and interesting cast of characters, puts them into an intriguing story, and uses its settings, props, and other resources very creatively. It is a fine combination of drama and comic relief that stands up very well against anything else of its type. The setting and atmosphere are quite believable, and they make it easy to enter the characters' world.
The opening sequence sets up everything nicely, with most of POW's helping two of the prisoners in an escape attempt, while William Holden as the cynical Sefton separates himself from the rest. Sefton is interesting enough as it is, a man who simply by remaining true to his nature cannot help arousing suspicion and antagonism, and Holden was quite a good choice to play him. The story builds up nicely, with developments coming at a careful pace, and some good stretches of lighter material.
There are numerous interesting characters and good performances among the other prisoners, and in particular Robert Strauss and Harvey Lembeck steal more than one scene with their antics which, though goofy, are also an appropriate complement to the main plot and the setting. The German characters are more stylized, but both Sig Ruman and Otto Preminger make them come to life, and help them fit in seamlessly with the others.
Billy Wilder's direction and the photography also deserve praise. Besides the way that each sequence fits together so nicely with the others, there are several individual scenes and shots that are done in an impressive fashion - not flashy, but creative and thoughtful. The scene with Holden lying on his cot while most of the others sing and celebrate is one particularly good example. There is a wealth of good material throughout, making "Stalag 17" a classic that has lost nothing over the years, and one that can be seen and enjoyed several times.