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Stalag 17

Play trailer Poster for Stalag 17 Released Jul 1, 1953 2h 0m War Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 77 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
One night in 1944 in a German POW camp housing American airmen, two prisoners try to escape the compound and are quickly discovered and shot dead. Among the remaining men, suspicion grows that one of their own is a spy for the Germans. All eyes fall on Sgt. Sefton (William Holden) who everybody knows frequently makes exchanges with German guards for small luxuries. To protect himself from a mob of his enraged fellow inmates, Sgt. Sefton resolves to find the true traitor within their midst.
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Stalag 17

Stalag 17

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Critics Consensus

Stalag 17 survives the jump from stage to screen with flying colors, thanks to Billy Wilder's typically sterling direction and a darkly funny script.

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Critics Reviews

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Mildred Martin Philadelphia Inquirer The suspect sergeant, an opportunist hated and patronized by the men he exploits, is extraordinarily well played by William Holden. Bidding neither for sympathy nor any particular understanding. Holden's Sefton is no conventional war play hero. Nov 5, 2022 Full Review Philip K. Scheuer Los Angeles Times Billy Wilder, one of the most caustic-minded of Hollywood's writer-director-producers, has taken a stage hit by Donald Bevan and Edmund Trzcinski and preserved its essential humor and tragedy with no dulling of its corrosive edges. Nov 5, 2022 Full Review Richard L. Coe Washington Post One of the year’s better films, a taut, shrewdly observant melodrama several notches above its stage original. Nov 5, 2022 Full Review Ian Kane Epoch Times “Stalag 17” provides a thoughtful commentary on human resilience and camaraderie under extremely dire circumstances. Rated: 4/5 Sep 27, 2024 Full Review James Kendrick Q Network Film Desk both a mordant comedy and a stark drama, a character study and an invigorating thriller Rated: 3.5/4 Mar 27, 2024 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy The drama survives intact but the humor proves to be a serious drag. Rated: 3/4 Nov 25, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ian F The humour and the characters delivering it have not aged well. They probably brought the house down in 1953; today they are just an intrusive irritation in what would otherwise be a very watchable wartime drama. Holden is outstanding. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/10/24 Full Review Lars N The gags between the main plot are a diversion at best, and cringe worthy at worst. Otherwise another solid film from Wilder. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/08/24 Full Review John S Surprisingly poignant in 2024 as the US forsakes what these soldiers gave for their country by betraying democracy and electing a self-proclaimed dictator. It's not a perfect film, but it's valuable. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/09/24 Full Review Connor S Written for the stage, and performed beautifully as if you were in an audience. God bless our POW's! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/11/24 Full Review Merick H The opening scene is excellent but it is all down hill from there. It is difficult for me to understand how this film stands in such high regard. The humor is insufferable (especially Animal). Schultz says, "Look at them lieutenant; everybody is a clown," and that is exactly how many of the characters came across with their foolish antics and cheesy one-liners. It is painfully obvious that the informant is not who all the evidence is pointing towards for the majority of the film, and there is nothing interesting about how we come to find out who it actually is. It has its moments, and I enjoyed the ending (even though it is completely implausible), but ultimately it is a sluggish bore of a film. It definitely did not live up to its prestige. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/03/24 Full Review Jim P I am from the UK so I wasn't sure I'd like a movie about American POWs… But they took a smash hit play and turned it into an awesome movie. It's also a lot of fun, with a South Pacific feel. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/10/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis One night in 1944 in a German POW camp housing American airmen, two prisoners try to escape the compound and are quickly discovered and shot dead. Among the remaining men, suspicion grows that one of their own is a spy for the Germans. All eyes fall on Sgt. Sefton (William Holden) who everybody knows frequently makes exchanges with German guards for small luxuries. To protect himself from a mob of his enraged fellow inmates, Sgt. Sefton resolves to find the true traitor within their midst.
Director
Billy Wilder
Producer
Billy Wilder
Screenwriter
Donald Bevan, Edmund Trzcinski, Billy Wilder, Edwin Blum
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Genre
War, Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 1, 1953, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 12, 2017
Runtime
2h 0m
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