Bringing Home a Message about those "Out of the Game" and on "The Sidelines" in the Cold, Wet and Muddy Hell Holes operated by the Axis Gang in "Fortress Europa", 1944.

Rating: 10/10 (7 March 2008)

Just about 8 years exactly since the last visages of World War II in VE Day and VJ Day were Front Page News, the Movie Version of our Movie made its premiere. STALAG 17 (Paramount, 1953) followed the original Broadway Stage Production of May 1951-June 1952 and 472 live performances. The play's Director, old "Cyrano de Bergerac", Himself, Jose Ferrer, won a Tony for his efforts.
But once the arrangements were made for adaptation to the still Silver Screen (the Movie Version was filmed in "Glorious Black & White!"); the Directorial Duties would cede to one Samuel "Billy" Wilder. Mr. Wilder had all of the necessary skills and balance of the serious, the tragic, the humorous and the ridiculous to pull off the Seri-Comic qualities which are inextricably blended and intermingled in the Play; be it on Stage or Screen.
WE notice that there are only 2 carry-overs in roles from the Stage to the Screen. Those two being Harvey Lembeck (Harry Shapiro) and Robert Strauss (called "Stosh" on Stage, but Stanislaus Kasava or "Animal" in the film. Same Character as "Stosh" or more properly, "Stash" is nickname for Stanislaus.), were the only two to make the cut.
OUR STORY.It's 1944, somewhere in Germany in a P.O.W. Camp barracks of Stalag 17. The camp is filled with Non-Coms*, being those paragons of intermediate authority, Sergeants. The camp's particular barracks has a problem for which that the inmates must find a solution. There is a one among them that no one wants; being a traitor, an informant a Kraut Spy! Aloof, cool and very business like, Sgt. Frank Sefton (William Holden) is Suspect "Numero Uno". Sefton, it seems, has no interest in anything else but himself and his sundry money making enterprises. His only confidant is Cookie (Gil Stratton) who runs some of his games (Rat Races, things like that!) and keeps his "Books".
The inmates deal daily with one German Sgt. Schultz (Sig Ruman) who seems very benevolent, but underneath this façade, he is a loyal German Soldier and true Nazi. On occasion, the prisoners have the experience of being addressed directly by the Camp Commandant, Colonel von Scheurbach (Otto Preminger, making a rare on camera appearance). The Colonel is a bitter former Cavalry Officer, who now, being relegated to this definitely below-his-dignity job. This is, by the way, a truly outstanding characterization by Mr. Preminger, quite possibly being done as a favor to Mr. Wilder.
All's well in the end as the real informant is discovered and dealt with as Sefton splits the scene, taking the Socially Prominent and Wealthy (in Civilian Life), Lieutenant Dunbar, out with him. THE END. (We tried not to give away too much, right Schultz?) STALAG 17 has a tremendous cast, and other than the appearance of some "Russian Women" prisoners, it's an all male cast. And what an outstanding line-up it is! Other than the previously mentioned William Holden, Harvey Lembeck, Robert Strauss, Otto Preminger and Sig Ruman; we have an "Army" of others. With all shining in their parts, we must salute: Richard Erdman, Peter Graves, Neville Brand (one of the top decorated Soldiers in the "real" War!), Michael Moore (not the same guy, obviously), Peter Baldwin, Robinson Stone, Robert Shawley, William Pierson, Jay Lawrence, Erwin Kaiser, Edmund Trzcinski, et al! Peter Graves once said in an interview that being in this picture should have been a real boost for his career. But going to the movies was in decline in the 1950's; so Mr. Graves joined his real life bro, James Arness (GUNSMOKE) in Television, as Mr. Jim on "FURY".
STALAG 17, of course, was the inspiration for its own take-off, "HOGAN'S HEROES" (Bing Crosby Productions/CBS TV, 1965-71); but that's another story!
NOTE: * "Non-Com" a Non-Commissioned Officer, such as a Corporal, Sergeant or, in the Navy or Coast Guard, a Petty Officer.