Very funny and very suspenseful...and not a documentary!

Rating: Null/10 (26 December 2002)

If you want to see what a POW camp was really like, then Stalag 17 is probably not the film to watch. But if you want to really laugh while also really think (as in trying to solve a mystery), then you can't do much better than this classic.
Holden is tremendous as the scheming, hustling Sergeant Sefton. He is also clearly the star in this film as the remainder of the cast play their roles admirably yet none of them is clearly the "co-star". Special mention should, however, go to the characters of Shapiro and The Animal. Look, comedy is very very subjective, and I know these guys' schtick isn't for everyone (having read some other comments!), but for me, these guys were drop dead hilarious. I always looked forward to their antics, and they didn't disappoint me. And I have to say that in such a miserable environment, I would have appreciated guys like this who tried to keep things as light as possible.
As for the plot, I was really taken by it. You can read the summary more quickly than I can try to summarize it, but it's definitely original. Factual? I don't know...and I also don't care. It's a Hollywood movie, and a very entertaining one.
Finally, I can't say enough about the dialogue. They don't write 'em like this anymore, probably because they CAN'T write 'em like this anymore. Quick-witted is an understatement.
Give it a shot, hope you enjoy it!