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Stalag 17 Overview:

Stalag 17 (1953) was a Comedy - Drama Film directed by Billy Wilder and produced by Billy Wilder and William Schorr.

The film was based on the play of the same name written by Donald Bevan and Edmund Trzcinski performed at the 48th Street Theatre, NY from May 8, 1951 - Jun 21, 1952.

SYNOPSIS

One of the greatest of the postwar WWII movies isn't a flag-waving storm-the-beaches epic or a homefront melodrama, but this POW-camp adventure with a black-comic edge. Wilder's biting, cynical dialogue looks presciently forward to the antihero war movies that would follow in the late '60s and the '70s. In a camp run with an iron fist by sadistic commandant Preminger, G.I.s keep themselves sane by planning escapes and pulling pranks on the guards. Keeping his mates at arm's length, Holden rejects the patriotic motivations of his comrades and engages in black-market trade with his captors and the women's compound. When a spy infiltrates the ranks, Holden's the obvious suspect. But after a beating, Holden uncovers the culprit and volunteers - for his own commercial reasons - for a heroic assignment. One of Wilder's greatest scripts (and he shot it nearly word-for-word), given a terrific reading from Holden and a deep cast of supporting actors.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Academy Awards 1953 --- Ceremony Number 26 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best ActorWilliam HoldenWon
Best Supporting ActorRobert StraussNominated
Best DirectorBilly WilderNominated
See More Oscar Winners

Stalag 17 BlogHub Articles:

William Holden is a prisoner in “Stalag 17”

By Stephen Reginald on Mar 26, 2021 From Classic Movie Man

William Holden is a prisoner in “Stalag 17” Stalag 17 (1953) is an American comedy-drama directed by Billy Wilder set in a German prisoner of war camp during World War II. The film is based on the Broadway play of the same name written by Donald Bevan and Edmund Trzcinski. Bevan and... Read full article

There's a Spy in Stalag 17

By Rick29 on Nov 24, 2019 From Classic Film & TV Cafe

William Holden as Sefton. Considering it was made by one of Hollywood's most versatile directors, it's no surprise that Billy Wilder's Stalag 17 flows back and forth effortlessly between drama and comedy. Set in a German prisoner of war camp during World War II, the dramatic storyline focuses on a ... Read full article

COMEDY GOLD #16: Animal and Shapiro from Stalag 17 (1953)

By Carol Martinheira on Jun 22, 2019 From The Old Hollywood Garden

COMEDY GOLD #16: Animal and Shapiro from Stalag 17 (1953) On June 22, 2019June 22, 2019 By CarolIn Uncategorized Birthday boy Billy Wilder’s flair for balacing comedy and drama in the same movie is legendary and revered. And, barring The Apartment (1960), one cou... Read full article

Review: Stalag 17 (1953)

By 4 Star Film Fan on May 26, 2019 From 4 Star Films

I grew up with Hogan’s Heroes reruns on our Magnavox analog television. In fact, at one point it was my favorite show because it had such a colorful cast, it was perennially entertaining and utterly goofy to the extreme. But others have understandably decried the show because they see it find... Read full article

Stalag 17 (1953, Billy Wilder)

By Andrew Wickliffe on Apr 17, 2019 From The Stop Button

Stalag 17 opens with narration explaining the film isn’t going to be like those other WWII pictures, where the soldiers are superhuman and the film bleeds patriotism. No, Stalag 17 is going to be something different—first off, it takes place not on the battlefield, but a German prison camp. Thro... Read full article

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Stalag 17 Quotes:

Sgt. Schulz: How do you expect to win the war with an army of clowns?
Lt. James Skylar Dunbar: We sort of hope you'd laugh yourselves to death.
Oberst Von Scherbach: Curtains would do wonders for this barracks. You will not get them.
Oberst Von Scherbach: All right then, gentlemen, we are all friends again. And with Christmas coming on I have a special treat for you. I'll have you all deloused for the holidays and I'll have a little Christmas tree for every barrack. You will like that.
Sgt. Schulz: [amused] You Americans are so *crazy*! That's why I like you!
Oberst Von Scherbach: Nobody has ever escaped from Stalag 17. Not alive, anyway.
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Stalag 17 Facts
The film is based on a play of the same name which is based on the experiences and reminisces of its authors Donald Bevan and Edmund Trzcinski both of whom were prisoners of war in Stalag 17B in Austria during World War II. Bevan, a B-17 tail gunner who was shot down over Germany in 1943, was the inspiration for the character Sergeant McIlhenny in Twelve O'Clock High.
William Holden did not like the part of Sefton at all as written in the script, thinking him too selfish. He kept asking Billy Wilder to make Sefton nicer and Wilder refused. Holden actually refused the role but was forced to do it by the studio.
The story takes place during the time of the "Battle of the Bulge" in December, 1944. The men learn about it on their secret radio before the Germans take it away.
Edmund Trzcinski: the P.O.W. who receives what is obviously (to everyone but him) a "Dear John" letter.
This film was one of the biggest hits of Billy Wilder's career. He expected a big piece of the profits. The studio accountants informed him that since his last picture Ace in the Hole lost money, the money that picture lost would be subtracted from his profits on this film. Wilder left Paramount shortly after that.
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