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Rating: 5/10 (14 August 1998)

What is trapped inside this film is a wonderful, intense mystery drama. The reason I say trapped is because so much time is wasted on comedy relief. Now, in this film, everyone inside a POW bunker in WWII Germany is accusing Sefton of selling the Germans information, because of his ample supplies and acerbic attitude. And so, Sefton has to find out who the informant really is, before his co-prisoners fully decide to blame and punish him accordingly. Sounds like a really great premise, doesn't it? And when it does focus on the premise, it sure hits the mark. Sadly, the drama is unsustained as two characters are thrown in simply to do a comedy relief every other scene. Obviously, someone decided that a flat-out serious WWII drama just wouldn't have enough impact at the box office, and tried to make it more popcorn audience-friendly with these scenes. And sadly, that's what ruins this film. However, it is still worth it for any William Holden fans to view the only film for which he won and Oscar, and well deserved. Holden is cunning enough that it feels like he belongs on the modern cinema screen , as opposed to many stiff male actors of Hollywood's early year. Truly, I believe Holden to be among cinema's first realistic, modern actors. Also, a young Peter Graves gives a stellar performance as well. So, pick up this classic if you are a William Holden fan, though not before you've seen his better films, like "Bridge on the River Kwai" and "Network."