Master Billy Wilder delivers a Cracking Classic escape of POW...

Rating: 8/10 (2 May 2020)

Stalag17 (1953) :
Short Review -
Master Billy Wilder delivers a Cracking Classic escape of POW. Among all the POW films i have seen till date, Stalag 17 should be called the Best. I would love to tell many reasons for that but i just got 2 perfect reasons to sum up all. First is, Stalag 17 came much before any other classic on same subject arrived, take 'The Great Escape' for instance. 10 years gap filled so many shortcomings of film technics but Stalag 17 still has a magic. Second reason is, Stalag 17 has got brilliant grip and entertainment. Most of the Escape flicks were too dark, too long and also seemed little bit boring in repeat watch but Stalag 17 is Funny, thrilling, captivating and re-watchable. William Holden deserved that Best Actor Academy Award like no one else among his contemporaries. There is a huge cast behind this classic and each and everyone deserves the credit for making this classic very much watchable by their excellent performances. Billy Wilder did something which all other directors have failed to do with this topic. I tell you i can't watch The Great Escape with the same joy on 10th viewing as 1st one but Stalag 17 would be in my watchlist any time, any day. With a perfect runtime of 120 minutes Wilder immersed all the elements of filmmaking whether is Comedy, Drama, suspense, sympathy and breathtaking climax. He created that atmosphere with every particular scene in the first 40 minutes and one we are in that world, there's no escape till The End. I don't remember any POW film having so many ingredients in such a short runtime. Stalag 17 is just Mind-blowing. Billy Wilder is a Genius and Stalag 17 proved it once again.
RATING- 8/10*
By - #samthebestest