There's a bit of an amusing comical mood in this World War II film set in a German prisoner of war camp, coming out the same year as the Oscar winning American film "Stalag 17", and possibly like that film influencing the oddball wartime sitcom "Hogan's Heroes". The officers, both British and American, entertain each other by putting on shoes, and at one point are counterpointing each other's band with different songs. A German guard opens the film noticing the sudden emergence of a hole in the sand like dirt outside the camp, and it's very funny in how it's played off.
But this is not a comedy, with leading character Anthony Steel reporting to Jack Warner and using a mannequin (which they name Albert) to stand in for roll call while someone escapes. The head of the camp is ironically named Schultz, but he's hardly the hear nothing/see nothing like numskul of John Banner's character. Robert Beatty and William Sylvester (the only American) co-star in this fast moving wartime thriller that has lots to keep the audience interested as things aren't always what they seem to be.
But this is not a comedy, with leading character Anthony Steel reporting to Jack Warner and using a mannequin (which they name Albert) to stand in for roll call while someone escapes. The head of the camp is ironically named Schultz, but he's hardly the hear nothing/see nothing like numskul of John Banner's character. Robert Beatty and William Sylvester (the only American) co-star in this fast moving wartime thriller that has lots to keep the audience interested as things aren't always what they seem to be.