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IMDbPro

Stalag 17

  • 1953
  • Not Rated
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
57K
YOUR RATING
William Holden, Harvey Lembeck, and Robert Strauss in Stalag 17 (1953)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer2:05
2 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyDramaWar

After two Americans are killed while escaping from a German P.O.W. camp in World War II, the barracks black marketeer, J.J. Sefton, is suspected of being an informer.After two Americans are killed while escaping from a German P.O.W. camp in World War II, the barracks black marketeer, J.J. Sefton, is suspected of being an informer.After two Americans are killed while escaping from a German P.O.W. camp in World War II, the barracks black marketeer, J.J. Sefton, is suspected of being an informer.

  • Director
    • Billy Wilder
  • Writers
    • Billy Wilder
    • Edwin Blum
    • Donald Bevan
  • Stars
    • William Holden
    • Don Taylor
    • Otto Preminger
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    57K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Billy Wilder
    • Writers
      • Billy Wilder
      • Edwin Blum
      • Donald Bevan
    • Stars
      • William Holden
      • Don Taylor
      • Otto Preminger
    • 183User reviews
    • 101Critic reviews
    • 84Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 6 nominations total

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:05
    Watch Official Trailer
    Stalag 17: Fall In
    Clip 1:51
    Watch Stalag 17: Fall In

    Photos118

    "Stalag 17" Robert Strauss, William Holden and Harvey Lembeck 1953 Paramount
    "Stalag 17" William Holden 1953 Paramount
    "Stalag 17" William Holden and Otto Preminger 1953 Paramount / MPTV
    "Stalag 17" William Holden, Otto Perminger, Don Taylor 1953 Paramount / MPTV
    "Stalag 17" Sig Rumann and William Holden 1953 Paramount / MPTV
    "Stalag 17" Harvey Lembeck, William Holden, Robert Strauss 1953 Paramount / MPTV
    William Holden and Don Taylor in Stalag 17 (1953)
    Janice Carroll, Alla Gursky, Marie Ardell, Zina Dennis, and Irene Bacha in Stalag 17 (1953)
    William Holden and Robert Strauss in Stalag 17 (1953)
    Harvey Lembeck and Robert Strauss in Stalag 17 (1953)
    Harvey Lembeck and Robert Strauss in Stalag 17 (1953)
    Neville Brand, Richard Erdman, Harvey Lembeck, Robert Strauss, and Don Taylor in Stalag 17 (1953)

    Top cast

    Edit
    William Holden
    William Holden
    • Sgt. J.J. Sefton
    Don Taylor
    Don Taylor
    • Lt. James Dunbar
    Otto Preminger
    Otto Preminger
    • Oberst von Scherbach
    Robert Strauss
    Robert Strauss
    • Sgt. Stanislaus 'Animal' Kuzawa
    Harvey Lembeck
    Harvey Lembeck
    • Sgt. Harry Shapiro
    Richard Erdman
    Richard Erdman
    • Sgt. 'Hoffy' Hoffman
    Peter Graves
    Peter Graves
    • Sgt. Frank Price
    Neville Brand
    Neville Brand
    • Duke
    Sig Ruman
    Sig Ruman
    • Sgt. Johann Sebastian Schulz
    Michael Moore
    • Sgt. Manfredi
    Peter Baldwin
    Peter Baldwin
    • Sgt. Johnson
    Robinson Stone
    • Joey
    Robert Shawley
    Robert Shawley
    • Sgt. 'Blondie' Peterson
    William Pierson
    William Pierson
    • Marko the Mailman
    Gil Stratton
    Gil Stratton
    • Sgt. Clarence Harvey 'Cookie' Cook
    • (as Gil Stratton Jr.)
    Jay Lawrence
    • Sgt. Bagradian
    Erwin Kalser
    • Geneva Man
    Edmund Trzcinski
    • 'Triz' Trzcinski
    • Director
      • Billy Wilder
    • Writers
      • Billy Wilder
      • Edwin Blum
      • Donald Bevan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      William Holden never felt he deserved an Oscar for his performance in this film. His wife felt it was to compensate for him not winning for "Sunset Blvd. (1950)."
    • Goofs
      In at least two scenes, German solders are seen using US Browning 30 cal. machine guns; some still think of it as an error, but the use of captured enemy equipment was common by all sides in the war. A POW compound would be the ideal place to locate captured weapons, with a relatively limited ammo supply, whilst they still served to deter escape.
    • Quotes

      Sefton: There are two people in this barracks who know I didn't do it. Me and the guy that did do it.

    • Connections
      Featured in Paramount Presents (1974)
    • Soundtracks
      When Johnny Comes Marching Home
      (1863) (uncredited)

      Written by Louis Lambert

      Played during the opening credits

      Played on a record and sung by the prisoners of war

      Whistled a bit by Gil Stratton at the end

    User reviews183

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Absorbing & Very Entertaining
    This absorbing and very entertaining movie creates a believable and interesting cast of characters, puts them into an intriguing story, and uses its settings, props, and other resources very creatively. It is a fine combination of drama and comic relief that stands up very well against anything else of its type. The setting and atmosphere are quite believable, and they make it easy to enter the characters' world.

    The opening sequence sets up everything nicely, with most of POW's helping two of the prisoners in an escape attempt, while William Holden as the cynical Sefton separates himself from the rest. Sefton is interesting enough as it is, a man who simply by remaining true to his nature cannot help arousing suspicion and antagonism, and Holden was quite a good choice to play him. The story builds up nicely, with developments coming at a careful pace, and some good stretches of lighter material.

    There are numerous interesting characters and good performances among the other prisoners, and in particular Robert Strauss and Harvey Lembeck steal more than one scene with their antics which, though goofy, are also an appropriate complement to the main plot and the setting. The German characters are more stylized, but both Sig Ruman and Otto Preminger make them come to life, and help them fit in seamlessly with the others.

    Billy Wilder's direction and the photography also deserve praise. Besides the way that each sequence fits together so nicely with the others, there are several individual scenes and shots that are done in an impressive fashion - not flashy, but creative and thoughtful. The scene with Holden lying on his cot while most of the others sing and celebrate is one particularly good example. There is a wealth of good material throughout, making "Stalag 17" a classic that has lost nothing over the years, and one that can be seen and enjoyed several times.
    helpful•40
    8
    • Snow Leopard
    • Sep 16, 2004

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    FAQ6

    • Is "Stalag 17" based on a book?
    • Where is the reference to adultery in "Stalag 17"?
    • Why didn't Sefton tell the others the identity of the traitor immediately when he found out?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 1953 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Infierno en la tierra
    • Filming locations
      • John Show Ranch, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA(prison camp)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,661,530 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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