Directed by:
Billy WilderScreenplay:
Billy WilderCinematography:
Ernest LaszloComposer:
Franz WaxmanCast:
William Holden, Don Taylor, Otto Preminger, Robert Strauss, Harvey Lembeck, Richard Erdman, Peter Graves, Neville Brand, Sig Ruman, Michael Moore (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
William Holden stars as the laconic J.J. Sefton, a prisoner whose cynical and mercenary disposition leads his fellow prisoners to conjecture his role as an informant after two men are shot in an attempt to escape the compound. But who exactly is the real spy shuttling inside knowledge to the ever-watchful Oberst von Scherbach (director Otto Preminger in what would become an iconic screen-role)? Only after the film builds towards an explosive crescendo is the answer finally revealed. (Eureka Entertainment)
(more)Reviews (1)
A serious film that should not to be taken seriously. Wilder once again handles a challenging material with unprecedented virtuosity, moving on two genre fronts at once: black dramatic comedy and psychological war drama, without falling into sterility or dullness for a single moment. On the contrary, thanks to lots of insight and the great actors, the film is more than pleasant to watch and the two hours fly by like a prisoner of war with a spotlight on his back. However, if we put the two fronts together and apply even a little of rational thinking, it would be immediately clear that war could never look like this. In terms of craftsmanship, however, it's excellent and has some truly unforgettable moments, but if we had dropped the comedy and called in a villain like Amon Goeth, Wilder would have been able to conjure up a much more impressive and important film. 85%
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Gallery (60)
Photo © Paramount Pictures
