POW Comedy/Drama.

Rating: 8/10 (2 November 2013)

Billy Wilder directed this classic comedy/drama set in a German POW camp called Stalag 17, in barracks 4, where American sergeants are housed together, always planning an escape. William Holden(Academy Award winner for best actor) stars as J.J. Sefton, and unscrupulous wheeler-dealer willing to trade with their German captors for favors and goods, which makes him the prime suspect when it is obvious that one of them is a German spy, though it isn't Sefton, who becomes determined to find out who the real spy is... Robert Strauss, Richard Erdman, Harvey Lembeck, Peter Graves, Otto Preminger, and Sig Rumann costar. First-rate film works well as both funny comedy and compelling drama, which is quite well directed and acted as well. Stretches credibility at times, but overall most worthwhile viewing that holds up.