The One That Got Away (1957)

Director:

Roy Ward Baker

Writers:

Howard Clewes (screenplay)
Kendal Burt (book) ...
(more)

Release Date:

2 December 1957 (Sweden)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | War

Plot:

A cocky German flight officer is shot down over England and makes numerous attempts to escape to fight again.

Plot Keywords:

Escape | German | Bravado | Dossier | Hero

Cast

Hardy Krüger	...	Franz Von Werra (as Hardy Kruger also)
Colin Gordon	...	Army Interrogator
Michael Goodliffe	...	R.A.F. Interrogator
Terence Alexander	...	R.A.F. Intelligence Officer
Jack Gwillim	...	Commandant, Grizedale
Andrew Faulds	...	Lieutenant - Grizedale
Julian Somers	...	Booking Clerk
Alec McCowen	...	Duty Officer, Hucknall
Harry Lockart	...	German Prisoner
Robert Crewdson	...	German Prisoner
George Mikell	...	German Prisoner
George Roubicek	...	German Prisoner
John Van Eyssen	...	German Prisoner
Frederick Jaeger	...	German Prisoner
Richard Marner	...	German Prisoner
Paul Hansard	...	German Prisoner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gerald Anderson	...	Adjutant - Swanick (uncredited)
Arthur Bentley	...	Cook - Swanick (uncredited)
Victor Brooks	...	Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Adrian Cairns	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Edward Cast	...	Driver - Hucknall (uncredited)
Robert Cawdron	...	Officer on Horseback (uncredited)
Cyril Chamberlain	...	Sergeant 'Later' (uncredited)
Peggy Ann Clifford	...	Train Conductor (uncredited)
Jan Conrad	...	German Orderly in Canada (uncredited)
Reed De Rouen	...	Canadian Truck Driver (uncredited)
Robert Dorning	...	Corporal Wilson (uncredited)
Michael Golden	...	First Detective (uncredited)
Celia Hewitt	...	Farm Girl 2 (uncredited)
George Hirste	...	Jim - Old Porter (uncredited)
Bernard Horsfall	...	Lieutenant - Kent (uncredited)
Glyn Houston	...	Harry 'Hurricane' (uncredited)
Stratford Johns	...	Second Detective (uncredited)
Charles Morgan	...	Manager at Hucknall (uncredited)
Al Mulock	...	US Patrolman at Ogdensburg (uncredited)
Etain O'Dell	...	Farm Girl 1 (uncredited)
Robert Raglan	...	Bystander (uncredited)
Michael Ripper	...	The Corporal Who Frisks Franz (uncredited)
Norman Rossington	...	Sergeant - Swanick (uncredited)
Anthony Sagar	...	Cook - Kent (uncredited)
Jack Taylor	...	First Gunner - Kent (uncredited)
Ben Williams	...	Policeman at Hucknall (uncredited)
Frank Williams	...	Station Porter (uncredited)

Directed by
Roy Ward Baker		(as Roy Baker)

Writing credits
Howard Clewes		(screenplay)
Kendal Burt		(book) &
James Leasor		(book)

Produced by
David Deutsch	....	associate producer
Earl St. John	....	executive producer
Julian Wintle	....	producer

Original Music by
Hubert Clifford

Cinematography by
Eric Cross		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Sidney Hayers

Art Direction by
Edward Carrick

Costume Design by
Anthony Mendleson

Makeup Department
George Claff	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Hugh Attwooll	....	production manager (as H.R.R. Attwooll)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Manley	....	assistant director
Denny Lewis	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Harold Orton	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Len Townsend	....	set dresser (as Leonard Townsend)
Charles Bishop	....	chief draughtsman (uncredited)
Robert Cartwright	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Peter Lamont	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ray Fry	....	sound editor
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound recordist
Arthur Ridout	....	sound editor
C.C. Stevens	....	sound recordist
Peter Gray	....	sound camera operator (uncredited)
Gus Lloyd	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Mike Round	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Cliff Culley	....	special processes (uncredited)
Frank George	....	special processes (uncredited)
Bert Marshall	....	special processes (uncredited)
John Stears	....	special processes (uncredited)
Bill Warrington	....	special processes (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ray Sturgess	....	camera operator
John Morgan	....	focus puller (uncredited)
George Courtney Ward	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Tristam Cones	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Cyril Simon	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Ted Drake	....	music recordist (uncredited)

Other crew
Arthur Alcott	....	production controller: Pinewood Studios
Penny Daniels	....	continuity
Teresa Bolland	....	production secretary (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Rank Organisation, The (presents) (as The Rank Organisation)
• Julian Wintle Productions (as A Julian Wintle Production)

Distributors

• Rank Film Distributors (1957) (UK) (theatrical) (released by) (as Rank Film Distributors Limited)
• Rank Film Distributors of America (1958) (USA) (theatrical)
• Elephant Films (2005) (France) (all media)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Divisa Home Video (2009) (Spain) (DVD)
• New KSM (2008) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios  DVD package design

Also Known As:

Runtime:

106 min | UK:111 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:U | Finland:K-12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Lake District, Cumbria, England, UK

Company:

Rank Organisation, The

Trivia:

First Feature Film of George Mikell.

Goofs:

Continuity: The bow of the ship that carries von Werra to Canada is seen in close-up travelling symbolically right to left across the screen. Unfortunately, the original stock footage was of a bow travelling left to right and the editor just stuck a piece in, reversed. The numbers are mirrored.

Quotes:

Franz von Werra:Does nobody speak in this country?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Doing Time (1979)

Cult Movies 26

26. THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY (war, 1958) During air raids on Britain during WW2 German Lt. Von Warren's (Hardy Kruger) plane is shot down. He's captured and made a P.O.W. He repeatedly tries to escape but to no avail. Undaunted in his efforts he finally succeeds but has to survive the long and dangerous trek back to Germany.

Critique: Although the title is a bit of a giveaway, this is one of the most intriguing of war films, a substitute to the countless Americanized versions of P.O.Ws. The picture is perfectly paced adding to the excitement and suspense. Based on a true story of the only German to escape from an allied camp, it has beautiful crisp black and white photography. What makes it a standout in film history though is the fact that a German soldier is made the hero here.

Actor Hardy Krugers' portrayal is an unusual mix of boyish charm, and cockiness. The film is virtually flawless except for the screenwriter's depiction of Von Warren. They make him so much likable and appealing (funnier) than the Brits that one walks out rooting for him. I mean isn't he the enemy? One of Hitler's tools of war?

Furthermore, it's disturbing to learn that Von Warren returns home but goes back to the front and dies fighting the Allies. This little known film is hard to get on video (though I've seen a re-released copy), so your best shot is to catch it on TV.

QUOTE: Von Warren: "It's the duty of an officer to try and escape."