The Secret War of Harry Frigg (1968)

When 5 allied generals are captured in Italy in WW II, it is a propaganda nightmare for the Allies. The generals are all 1 star and refuse to take orders from each other in order to plan an... See full summary »

Director:

Jack Smight

Writers:

Peter Stone, Frank Tarloff (screenplay),

Stars:

Paul Newman, Sylva Koscina, Andrew Duggan

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Newman	...	Pvt. Harry Frigg
Sylva Koscina	...	Countess Francesca De Montefiore
Andrew Duggan	...	Gen. Newton Armstrong
Tom Bosley	...	Gen. Roscoe Pennypacker
John Williams	...	Gen. Francis Mayhew
Charles Gray	...	Gen. Adrian Cox-Roberts
Vito Scotti	...	Col. Enrico Ferrucci
Jacques Roux	...	Gen. Andre Rochambeau
Werner Peters	...	Maj. von Steignitz
James Gregory	...	Gen. Homer Prentiss
Fabrizio Mioni	...	Lt. Rossano
Johnny Haymer	...	Sgt. Pozzallo
Norman Fell	...	Capt. Stanley
Buck Henry	...	Stockade Commandant
Horst Ebersberg	...	Lt. Gruber

Storyline

When 5 allied generals are captured in Italy in WW II, it is a propaganda nightmare for the Allies. The generals are all 1 star and refuse to take orders from each other in order to plan an escape. Harry Frigg is a private who has escaped from the guard house dozens of times. He is promoted to Major General (2 stars) and ordered to get the generals out once he is captured. Harry is willing to escape, but then he meets the countess ...

---

Plot Keywords:

general | escape | italy | villa | world war two in italy | 

---

Taglines:

It's not who you con. It's how you do it.

---

Genres:

Comedy | War

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 February 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Meanwhile, Far from the Front

Filming Locations:

Sierra Madre, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Albion Film Corp. (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Johnny Haymer's film debut.

---

Goofs

The signage, both the title on the office door in London and the Dymo tape labels on the generator switches in the German POW camp are of a type that did not come into use until after the war.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Simpsons: The Secret War of Lisa Simpson (1997)

User Reviews

Very Entertaining

Some of the movies I get to see on movie channels that play older movies are well worth the extra few dollars a month to the cable company. This was one of those movies. Not the greatest movie I've ever seen, but very entertaining, funny in a quirky way, well worth a look.