In 1943, an Italian-administered P.O.W. camp for captured Allies goes through a series of failed escapes only to culminate in a daring plan for a dramatic mass escape.In 1943, an Italian-administered P.O.W. camp for captured Allies goes through a series of failed escapes only to culminate in a daring plan for a dramatic mass escape.In 1943, an Italian-administered P.O.W. camp for captured Allies goes through a series of failed escapes only to culminate in a daring plan for a dramatic mass escape.
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAmongst the names called out in the 'roll call' scene when Captain Long returns from Benucci's office is 'Verity'. Yorkshire and England cricketer Hedley Verity, who served as a captain in the Green Howards, was captured in Italy and died there while he was a PoW. It's a sufficiently unusual surname to be more than coincidence.
- GoofsIn the final scene, when Capitano Benucci realized an escape is happening, he is seen running around the camp with his pistol in his hand. The pistol is an automatic, but when he shoots the "traitor" hidden behind the blanket, the closeup shows a revolver.
- Quotes
Lt. Col. Huxley: [the prisoners are discussing the corpse of a man discovered in an escape tunnel] Obviously we must report this to the Italians at once.
Lt. Col. David Baird, M.C.: Report it, aye, but do you have to tell them where you found him?
Lt. Col. Huxley: Yes, of course we do. Their doctors will prove he died under a fall of sand. That means only one thing - a tunnel.
Lt. Col. David Baird, M.C.: Well just for the record, if you tell 'em the truth, you'll be making them a present of the only tunnel in this camp with a real chance.
Lt. Col. Huxley: What alternative do you suggest?
Lt. Col. David Baird, M.C.: Put him in another tunnel. An abandoned one. And then report it.
Lt. Col. Huxley: You mean fake a fall in another tunnel?
Lt. Col. David Baird, M.C.: Well, it happens easily enough by accident. It shouldn't be difficult to do it on purpose.
Lt. Col. Huxley: That might not be the end of the matter, you realise that?
Lt. Col. David Baird, M.C.: Well I'm still for it, sir.
Lt. Col. Huxley: Alright. Who'll do it?
Capt. Roger Byfold: I will, sir.
Lt. Col. Huxley: Well, the less I know about it, the better. And, just as a matter of interest, might I be allowed to know where this abandoned tunnel starts?
[Baird looks at the floor below Huxley's feet, indicating that Huxley is standing on it]
- Crazy creditsOpening credits prologue: North Italy Summer 1943
- ConnectionsReferenced in Two Way Stretch (1960)
- SoundtracksNe Partez pas déjà
Music by Henry Himmel
The source for the story is a Michael Gilbert mystery 'Death in Captivity'published in the mid 1950's. It,s a cracking read and compliments the film as some narrative elements had to be changed for filmed purposes. The play within the story is different, and motivation of hero and villain is slightly more efficiently. It also gives you a glimpse into what happened after the mass escape.
For the Buff, spot Michael Caines first screen appearance, note the film's technical relationship to 'The League of Gentlemen', made in 1960 and watch the two on the same bill for a rewarding afternoon viewing.
To my mind this film also lifted Terrance Alexander from the rather predicable comedy character roles he was playing to top notch light drama actor. And Bernard Lee once again proved how dependable and useful he was in films filled with better known faces.
- richard-meredith27
- Jul 11, 2005
Details
- Runtime1 hour 41 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1
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