THE COLDITZ STORY
UK, 1955, 94 minutes, Black and white.
John Mills, Eric Portman, Frederick Valk, Lionel Jeffries, Ian Carmichael, Bryan Forbes, Theodore Bickel, Richard Wattis.
Directed by Guy Hamilton.
One of many war and escape films of the early fifties. The trend began with The Wooden Horse and was very popular at the time, especially paying tribute to the heroes of the war. This is generally conventional material based on a best seller by Pat Reid, who is portrayed by John Mills in the film and acted as adviser to the film. The situations are generally predictable but presented in a humorous British way.
The Germans are presented as bullies and foolish though not as the monsters as in some other war films. There is a good supporting British cast including Bryan Forbes, the writer-director and Lionel Jeffries, Theodore Bikel and Ian Carmichael in early roles. Direction is by Guy Hamilton who was to move to Hollywood and to bigger films especially with many James Bond films and The Battle of Britain. The screenplay written in collaboration with Hamilton and producer Ivan Foxwell was by playwright William Douglas Home.
1. The impact of war films in the forties and fifties? Now? History, tributes, adventure?
2. British film-making in the fifties? For British audiences, memories of the war, tributes? For Commonwealth audiences, international audiences?
3. Morale boosting films and their effect on the British, the presentation of the British, the Germans, the Allies, the Poles, French, Dutch? How well were these presented in this film?
4. The authenticity of the film? The introductions, the final escape record? Pat Reid as the author of the book, the adviser for the film? An atmosphere of authenticity ? Colditz and its way of life, the camaraderie between the prisoners, the treatment by the Germans?
5. The dramatic momentum of the film? The entry into prison, the beginning of the war, the episodic nature of life at Colditz, the building up towards escape?
6. The impact of Colditz Castle - medieval, German, as a place for prisoners during the war, the atmosphere of the place and its look, British officers and their record of escape, the treatment by the Germans in comparison with concentration camps?
7. Attitudes towards escape, the many attempts by the various nationalities and the clashes, the recapture, the punishment, solitary confinement, loss of privileges? The various parades and the attitudes of the Germans especially the Commandant who was a British prisoner-of-war in World War I?
8. The presentation of the British and their style, their arrogance and their criticism of the escape attempts of others, the need for conferring and Colonel Hammond's treatment of collaboration? The British humour, the exercise, the diggings, their way of speaking to one another, the preparation for the concerts and humour etc.?
9. The presentation of the Germans – arrogant, their shouting, presented as foolish? How cruel? The parades, the shooting of escaping prisoners?
10. The excitement of the escape attempts, the vaulting the Frenchman, the climbing of the wall, the Poles and the Dutch and the tunnels, so many returning?
11. The details of the final plan. Mac and his conception of it, the challenge by Hammond, his escape to his death. the crisis for Reid, the achievement of the escape and its tension? The recapture of some? The two Englishmen with the dummy hanging out the castle wall and the chaos created?
12. The portraits of the British - Richmond as a Colonel, domestic, his attitude towards escape, his taking command, Germans holding him responsible? Reid and his very British approach to things, Jim and his various escape attempts, Harry and his humour, the actors, Mac?
13. A record of the war, the spirit of heroism. the atmosphere of prison and the need for escape, the human spirit and freedom, morale boosting?
