The Wooden Horse (1950)True story of three British POWs and their attempt to escape from Nazi Germany. Director:Jack LeeWriter:Eric Williams (novel) |
|
| 0Share... |
The Wooden Horse (1950)True story of three British POWs and their attempt to escape from Nazi Germany. Director:Jack LeeWriter:Eric Williams (novel) |
|
| 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Leo Genn | ... |
Flt. Lt. Peter Howard
|
|
| David Tomlinson | ... |
Phil Roe
|
|
|
|
Anthony Steel | ... |
Capt. John Clinton
|
| David Greene | ... |
Nick Bennett
|
|
| Peter Burton | ... |
Nigel
|
|
|
|
Patrick Waddington | ... |
Group Capt. Wardley (Senior British Officer)
|
| Michael Goodliffe | ... |
Robbie
|
|
| Anthony Dawson | ... |
Pomfret
|
|
|
|
Bryan Forbes | ... |
Paul
|
|
|
Dan Cunningham | ... |
David
|
| Peter Finch | ... |
Australian in Hospital
|
|
|
|
Philip Dale | ... |
Bill White
|
|
|
Russell Waters | ... |
W /
C 'Wings' Cameron
|
|
|
Ralph Ward | ... |
Adjutant
|
|
|
Franz Schafheitlin | ... |
Camp Commandant
|
In a POW camp, the Nazis have placed the huts far from the boundary so that any escape tunnel would have to be a long one. One British officer has the idea of starting a daily gynmastics routine using a vaulting horse: they can place it near the boundary and start a tunnel from under it. He and two others do escape the camp by this means and plan to make for neutral Sweden. To do that, they'll not only have to move around without arousing any suspicions, but also find a stranger from a neutral or occupied country who'll be willing and able to help them. Written by Anonymous
Playing out as a sort of pre runner to The Great Escape some 13 years later, this smashing little British film plays it straight with no thrills and dare do well overkill. First part of the movie is the set up and subsequent escape of our protagonists, whilst the second part concentrates on their survival whilst on the run as they try to reach Sweden. The film relies on pure characters with simple, effective, and yes, believable dialogue to carry it thru, and it achieves its aims handsomely. No little amount of suspense keeps the film ticking along, and as an adventure story it works perfectly for the time frame it adheres to, so a big thumbs to the film that may well be the first of its type? 7/10