The Colditz Story

1955

1h 37m

War

Drama

List

80%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

72%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

British officers (John Mills, Eric Portman) and other Allied prisoners try to escape from a supposedly escape-proof German castle.

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Chris Bennion

Times (UK)

Based on the wartime experience of Pat Reid (played by John Mills), this is a solid yarn.

Jul 26, 2023

Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

This may be to the taste of the British, and American audiences looking for a farce, laced with a sort of deadpan bravado, may also find it mildly amusing.

Mar 25, 2006

Full Review

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

Jaunty...a proof-of-concept picture for the later, bigger budget, all-star cast "Great Escape."

Rated: 3/4

Jan 3, 2022

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

Little of the relentless bleakness of captivity is conveyed in the film. On a jolly adventure-story level, though, it's well acted, suspenseful and quietly enjoyable.

Nov 14, 2019

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Aug 10, 2005

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keith w

This was all a bit too public school jolly japes with the mainly British POWs fooling the fat humourless stupid Germans i.e. racial stereotypes abounded. I think life would have been not as pleasant in a real German POW camp. What lifts this film out of the ordinary is the setting: a castle rather than wooden huts behind barber wire, and the acting of the British commanding officer, Eric Portman. I can't think of any role he played that he didn't play well and he's head and shoulders above these, including John Mills.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

another good wartime film about the infamous POW camp

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

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Audience Member

Damn fine POW film, by jove

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

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Audience Member

another though british WWII prison escape/POW pic like 'the great escape" or 'bridge on the river kwai" but still watchable

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

British lips remain resolutely stiff in this John Mills starring WWII POW film from the 1950's, on the surface its business as usual with many an escape attempt, and as the opening would imply its 'apparently' all true. A pinch of salt is recommended but Hamiltons direction and solid performances from Jeffries and Forbes along with the ever reliable Mills this is great Sunday afternoon entertainment.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A true account of the prisoners of war of a Germany's fortress The Colditz Castle. The average escape movie weakened by the lack of credible villain figures but with most of the tension that make these films generally entertaining.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

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Guy Hamilton

Director

John Mills

Pat Reid

Eric Portman

Colonel Richmond

Christopher Rhodes

'Mac' McGill

Lionel Jeffries

Harry Tyler

Bryan Forbes

Jimmy Winslow

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Synopsis

British officers (John Mills, Eric Portman) and other Allied prisoners try to escape from a supposedly escape-proof German castle.

Director: Guy Hamilton
Screenwriter: P.R. Reid
Production Co: Ivan Foxwell Productions
Genre: War, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 17, 2020
Runtime: 1h 37m

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