A POW sergeant named Sefton (William Holden) is suspected to be a spy amongst his fellow group of captured G.I.’s in a WWII POW camp. As the story progresses, we wonder if they are correct. Obviously someone is a traitor—it has to be one of the POWs because the Germans keep finding out their plans. But is it Sefton? Is he capable of such treachery?
Billy Wilder in a switch from comedy proved himself equally adept at drama and brought a top-drawer performance out of Holden, who won the 1953 Best Actor award for his role in the film. In fact this is the best Wilder or Holden movie I have seen thus far. It is one of the very best movies of the 1950s. I especially enjoyed its excellent film noir style of photography by Ernest Laszlo, its storytelling, and its score by Franz Waxman.
Billy Wilder won an Oscar nomination for Best Director, and Robert Strauss was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Adapted by Billy Wilder and Edwin Blum from the play by Donald Bevan and Edmund Trzcinski. Two hours long, also available on DVD.
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Quotes from Stalag 17:
After hearing gunshots, Sefton,
who bet against the escapees, collects...
Duke: Hold
it, Sefton. I said hold it! So we heard some shots. So who says they didn't get
away?
Sefton:
Anybody here want to double their bet?
Price: Are
you questioning me?
Sefton:
Getting acquainted. I'd like to make one friend in this barracks.
Price: Well,
don't bother, Sefton. I don't like you, I never did, and I never will.
Sefton: A lot
of people say that, and the first thing you know it, they get married, and live
happily ever after.
Trivia about Stalag
17:
Cast overview, first billed only:
William Holden ....
Sefton
Don Taylor
.... Lieutenant Dunbar
Otto Preminger ....
Oberst
Von Scherbach
Robert Strauss
.... 'Animal' Stosh
Harvey Lembeck ....
Harry
Shapiro
Richard Erdman ....
Hoffy
Peter Graves
.... Price
Neville Brand .... Duke
Sig Ruman .... Schulz
Michael Moore .... Manfredi
Peter Baldwin
.... Jonson
Robinson Stone ....
Joey
Robert Shawley ....
Blondie
William Pearson
.... Marko
Gil Stratton .... Cookie (Narrator)
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