Stalag 17 (Special Collector's Edition)
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Movie Reviews of Stalag 17 (Special Collector's Edition)
Movie Review: It lacks the pristine quality of most Wilder's other work, but it's still worth the time...
Summary: 4 Stars
So, I've mentioned in a few reviews already that I am becoming quite the Billy Wilder fan. For the most part I am just in love with all of his films. In all honesty, the only one of those that I've seen that was less than impressive to me was `The Seven Year Itch'. Sadly, `Stalag 17', while not as bad as the aforementioned, is not at the same caliber as his films like `The Apartment' and `Some Like it Hot'. No, `Stalag 17' is not one of my favorite Wilder films. Sure, it has its moments, and when it does hit (the ending is particularly well done) it hits hard, but there are too many areas where I feel it misses its mark.
The film tells the story of Sgt. J. J. Sefton, an American prisoner of war living out his captivity in stalag 17. His somewhat prickly demeanor has led some to accuse him of being an informant to the Germans. Determined to prove his innocence (and exact revenge on the one who set him up) Sefton engages in a game of wit and deception as he works to uncover the truth.
The story is intriguing, but I wouldn't say that it is handled in the best way. In fact, the first half of the film left me wondering why I was watching the film in the first place. It seems to flow at an uneven pace, one that doesn't really establish its purpose until a good way into the film. It's funny that the Amazon review mentions `Hogan's Heroes' because that's all I could think of while watching this movie. Sadly, this movie can't hold up to the fond memories I have of that wonderfully constructed television series. I really thought that Wilder would be able to pull this off, especially since he is no stranger to comedy (`Some Like it Hot'), drama (`Double Indemnity') or a combination of the two (`The Apartment') and so I really thought he was going to knock this out of the park. Instead the film seems littered with gags that try too hard yet never quite land. You can tell that Wilder really wants to lighten up the film, but only a handful of the comedic moments work within the context of the film. The film soars much higher when Wilder leaves his humor behind and focuses on the dramatic portions of the film. Like I mentioned, the last few frames are particularly stunning.
As far as the acting is concerned, it is also a case of drama trumping comedy. The comedic performances seem out of place for the most part, rarely generating the anticipated laugh (Harvey Lembeck lands almost every gag, while his comedic counterpart Robert Strauss struggles), but William Holden and Otto Preminger manage to make the dramatic sequences pass off with flying colors. I will not say that this was a triumphant performance for Holden (I much preferred him in Wilder's stunning `Sunset Blvd.') but I will say that he was definitely noteworthy. He delivers a solid performance as a man at wits end trying to clear his good name. Otto Preminger is wonderful as the sinister camp commander and really should have garnered himself an Oscar nomination (I would have preferred him or Lembeck to Strauss, definitely).
In the end I will say that `Stalag 17' is entertaining and it is a good movie, but I feel that it had potential to be great (especially in Wilder's hands) and so its small failures seem bigger to me than perhaps they really are. I would love to have labeled this an A+ movie, because I feel that it has the raw quality to have become that, but instead it'll have to settle for a solid B.
Movie Review: Stalag 17
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the best war time movies. Great performances keep you interested as the characters play out the scenes. Good character development & suspense is tight.Movie Review: Good entertainment
Summary: 5 Stars
Does what the older movies always do. Entertain and hold our attention without all the gore. In others ways this has actual acting in it.Movie Review: Excellent acting
Summary: 5 Stars
One of William Holden's best, though he seldom gave a poor performance anyway. The richness of the other actors and excellent camera angles and editing make this an excellent movie to enjoy over and over again. Movie Review: Stalag 17 (Special Collector's Edition)
Summary: 5 Stars
"Did they beat you?" asked the Red Cross Man.
"I was playing Pinochle," Sefton replied. "It's a rough game."
ESSENTIAL MOVIE!!! Stalag 17 stars William Holden & is directed by the great Billy Wilder (nominated for Best Director), who also produced & co-wrote the script. Nominated for three Academy Awards & winner of one, Stalag 17 tells the gripping story of a P.O.W. camp during late WWII. Though a drama, Stalag 17 offers many comedic moments that out does many so called comedies.
Sefton (William Holden, winner of the Best Actor Academy Award) is a hustler extraordinaire, trading with the Germans for special favors. He's one of the most unpopular men (& a very unsympathetic character, no less) in Stalag 17. Everything has an angle & the bottom line is his profit. This so rules his life that only Cookie (Gil Stratton) will tolerate him. Cookie is Sefton's assistant & lackey in his profit making schemes.
Stalag 17 is full of dynamic characters. Col. Von Scherbach (Otto Preminger) is the camp kommandant, ruthless & uncaring. His scenes are some of the highlights of the movie. His acting (remember, he was really a director) is so over the top that they become quite humorous. The scene where he is addressing the prisoners in the compound is classic, he eases his coat open with his arms, places his arms on his hips, all the while condescending. The scene where he calls his superiors in Berlin is classi, also. He's in full uniform except for his boots, pacing in white socks, finally, he sits, his servant assists him in putting on his jack-boots, he places the call to Berlin, clicks his heels together multiple times during the call, then when the call is completed Von Scherbach has his servant remove the boots. Classic Billy Wilder!
The show stealer is Animal (Robert Strauss, nominated for Best Supporting Actor), a not-too-bright sergeant who's not very good looking either. He has a crush on Betty Grable that figures prominently in a scene later in the movie. Harry Shapiro (Harvey Lembeck) is his buddy, their scenes are some of the funniest in the movie. Near the end, when the Betty Grable angle comes in, has Animal & Shapiro dancing together (along with all the other men in the barracks), Animal is confessing his love to Shapiro, who Animal thinks is Grable. This was a very daring scene for 1950, a scene that Hollywood censors did not want in the movie.
Hoffy (Richard Erdman) is the barracks chief for the Americans. Erdman had done mostly comedies up to this point in his career, this is a rare "straight" role for him.
The story is basically this: Sefton is the hustler & trades too much with the Germans, the P.O.W.s don't like him. An escape attempt is made by two Americans & they are shot outside the compound. There's a stoolie in the barracks but no one knows who, since Sefton is so despicable he's the one that gets blamed. Of course they're wrong. In one of Hollywood's best scenes of retribution Sefton comes out on top & becomes a hero, albeit an unsavory one.
The film has Neville Brand (Duke), Don Taylor (Lt. Dunbar), Peter Graves (Price, a pivotal role) & Sig Rugman as Sgt. Schulz (might have been Rugman's best role). If some of this sounds familiar it's very possible, the television sitcom, Hogan's Heroes, was based on this movie.
The film is beautifully restored & there are bonus features; "Stalag 17: From Reality to Screen" & "The Real Heroes of Stalag XVIIB". The latter has interviews with veterans that had been imprisoned at Stalag 17. It's a very moving featurette. There's also a commentary soundtrack in the film, photo gallery * movie trailer. This is one of Hollywood's greatest efforts.