I Finally Saw Stalag 17!

[inhonoredglory]

Yup, I got the film from the library and the whole family sat in for it! My review for it says pretty much everything:

I was really excited to see this, since I knew it was the seed of inspiration for my favorite series Hogan's Heroes. The similarities are astounding - from a tubby guard named Schultz to the "no escape" record of the Kommandant to

Comments

[inhonoredglory]

Go ahead and snag, but don't credit me. I got it off Google Images! Wow, it's your favorite film! That's great. It was a wonderful movie. I'm so glad I got to see it. :)

[inhonoredglory]

You're welcome. ;)

I haven't seen much William Holden. (Still working on the classics) Though I can't wait to see those movies you mention.

[all_things413]

I saw it a long time ago. Really the only thing I remember is the beginning when those two guys are shot (something which surprised me, if I remember correctly) and the part with the light bulb. I need to re-watch it.

But do you like movies that deal with WWII? I saw one which was really good. It's not centered around WWII, it's about a Jewish guy who falls in love with a girl, they get married, and later get sent to a concentration camp. It's called "Life is Wonderful" and it's a French film. Such a good movie. I defiantly recommend it! It's funny and sad like Stalag 17. I think you'd like it.

[inhonoredglory]

Yes, that first scene scared me a little, too. It really put a serious tone to the film, through all the funnies.

Yes, I've just got into wanting to watch WWII films. It's a little difficult at times, since we always watch movies with the rest of the family, and they're not particularly into war films. I saw "Hart's War" a while back (another POW one) and really loved it. Quite powerful. "Schindler's List" is still on my watch list. I also consider "The Diary of Anne Frank" and "Since You Went Away" my favorites. So, yes, thank you for the movie recommendation. I'd love to see that one. *adds to watch list* I hope I get a dubbed version, as I don't speak French (though I'd love to learn it one day!). Thanks again!

[all_things413]

Oh, I don't speak French either. I just put it on an English voice over setting. It was kinda like watching an old Godzilla movie at first, since their mouths didn't match their words, but it's something you get used to after a while.

[inhonoredglory]

Ah, OK! That makes sense. Yeah, I would love to see that one.

great movie!

[sgt_moffitt]

I love that movie too. One of the parts that I found particularly touching was the way the POWs cared for the shell-shocked Joey.

And Sefton was definitely a complex character. Everybody hates him (with good reason) and yet he's not the complete bad guy he appears. Even though he tries to tell Dunbar that he's only helping him to escape because Dunbar's wealthy family will reward him, you know there's more to it than that.

And I don't know if you realized that the original play was written by a couple of ex-POWs.

Another good movie is "The Great Escape"...doesn't have a happy ending, but somehow it's uplifting.

Re: great movie!

[inhonoredglory]

Worthwhile points you make. The scene with Animal reading Joey's letter and suggesting what Joey would say next to his parents was certainly a deft touch of depth. And Sefton's complex character is further pointed out by his never saying he hated Nazis (as William Holden wanted to have his character admit). It's all implied, which works out nicely. Sefton is one of those pragmatic people who does have a streak of ideals still in him.

Yes, after the movie, we watched the mini documentary on the film and it mentioned that ex-POWs wrote the original screenplay. It's amazing that they were able to write that, but I'm glad they did and showed how complex life as a POW is.

I think I saw "The Great Escape" a long while ago. I'll have to check it out once again, now that I am more interested in the subject. And I would agree that happy endings are not the criteria for a good, uplifting movie. Many deep, inspirational ones don't end all too happily.

[marie1964]

I haven't seen this movie, since I'm really not into war movies. I did see and enjoy "Saving Private Ryan," but only because I had to for my high school class. Still, since this movie did inspire HH, I suppose I should at least look into it.

[inhonoredglory]

There's not really much war in "Stalag 17." Only as much as there is war in Hogan's Heroes, really. So I don't think a non-war-movie person like you would mind it any. I haven't seen "Saving Private Ryan" yet, which is ironic now, I suppose. But since you liked it, I'm sure I would. Can't wait to get to it!

[marie1964]

Yeah, SPR was long, but definitely not tedious or boring. If there isn't a lot of war in S 17, I should watch it.

[inhonoredglory]

Yes, and S17 is shorter, too, like most black-and-white films. Hope you enjoy it! :)