A Who-Done-It set in a POW camp

Rating: 8/10 (11 December 2011)

I will not describe the plot as it has been done elsewhere. I thought the film enthralling with one exception.
William Holden is excellent as the cynical prisoner who trades with the Germans to get the good things in life (including women!); he would have revelled in being a black marketeer in post-war Berlin. Holden is a master at moralising from a dubious position and the film's dichotomy of Holden representing self-interest versus the rest representing duty provides Holden with ample scope to display this talent. I have heard that Charlton Heston and Kirk Douglas were considered for his role but neither of them would have been able portray the necessary cynicism (as apposed to unpleasant) with Holden's skill because Heston is too noble and Douglas does not have the talent.
The remainder of the cast gave sterling performances; especially the hut chief as the man of reason and the hot-headed Sgt playing the unthinking vigilante, and the ..........German spy! I only have two criticisms:
1. The 'animal' character was too stupid to be funny; he was merely irritating. I felt the film would have been darker and more intense if this character and the 'comedy' had been omitted. The 'animal' is the reason I did not score the film a 10.
2. Generally, the Germans treated western-allied POWs pretty fairly and I do not think they would automatically have opened fire at anyone within the compound or at escapees when caught. (The murder of 70-odd RAF prisoners was an exception and was carried out by the Gestapo).
I would thoroughly recommend this film to fans of POW camp films or fans of Who-Done-Its. You are in for a treat.