A Must-See Classic

Rating: 10/10 (29 September 2002)

If, the first time you 'saw' "Stalag 17" you were only allowed to listen to the dialogue, and then were asked to place the year the film was made, you'd probably answer that it is a new release, or perhaps from the late 60s or early 70s. You'd answer that way in large measure because the tone of "Stalag 17" is cynical and irreverent. The main character is what used to be known as an anti-hero; independent, anti-establishment, in it for himself and the rest of the world be damned. You'd be surprised to learn that the movie was released in 1953 at the height of the Cold War and when memories of WWII were very fresh.
But Billy Wilder was the type of artist that could pull this off. And he had support from an extremely talented cast and crew. "Stalag 17" is ageless; the sharp bite of the dialogue, the great ensemble acting, the stark realism of the sets. If you haven't had the joy of watching this movie, by all means put it on your must-see list.