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Stalag 17

  • 19531953
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
55K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
William Holden, Harvey Lembeck, and Robert Strauss in Stalag 17 (1953)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer2:05
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • War
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.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
55K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Billy Wilder
  • Writers
    • Billy Wilder(written for the screen by)
    • Edwin Blum(written for the screen by)
    • Donald Bevan(based on the play by)
  • Stars
    • William Holden
    • Don Taylor
    • Otto Preminger
Top credits
  • Director
    • Billy Wilder
  • Writers
    • Billy Wilder(written for the screen by)
    • Edwin Blum(written for the screen by)
    • Donald Bevan(based on the play by)
  • Stars
    • William Holden
    • Don Taylor
    • Otto Preminger
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 174User reviews
    • 98Critic reviews
    • 84Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 6 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:05
    Official Trailer

    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. Seftonas Sgt. J.J. Sefton
    Don Taylor
    Don Taylor
    • Lt. James Dunbaras Lt. James Dunbar
    Otto Preminger
    Otto Preminger
    • Oberst von Scherbachas Oberst von Scherbach
    Robert Strauss
    Robert Strauss
    • Sgt. Stanislaus 'Animal' Kuzawaas Sgt. Stanislaus 'Animal' Kuzawa
    Harvey Lembeck
    Harvey Lembeck
    • Sgt. Harry Shapiroas Sgt. Harry Shapiro
    Richard Erdman
    Richard Erdman
    • Sgt. 'Hoffy' Hoffmanas Sgt. 'Hoffy' Hoffman
    Peter Graves
    Peter Graves
    • Sgt. Frank Priceas Sgt. Frank Price
    Neville Brand
    Neville Brand
    • Dukeas Duke
    Sig Ruman
    Sig Ruman
    • Sgt. Johann Sebastian Schulzas Sgt. Johann Sebastian Schulz
    Michael Moore
    • Sgt. Manfredias Sgt. Manfredi
    Peter Baldwin
    Peter Baldwin
    • Sgt. Johnsonas Sgt. Johnson
    Robinson Stone
    • Joeyas Joey
    Robert Shawley
    Robert Shawley
    • Sgt. 'Blondie' Petersonas Sgt. 'Blondie' Peterson
    William Pierson
    William Pierson
    • Marko the Mailmanas Marko the Mailman
    Gil Stratton
    Gil Stratton
    • Sgt. Clarence Harvey 'Cookie' Cookas Sgt. Clarence Harvey 'Cookie' Cook
    • (as Gil Stratton Jr.)
    Jay Lawrence
    • Sgt. Bagradianas Sgt. Bagradian
    Erwin Kalser
    • Geneva Manas Geneva Man
    Edmund Trzcinski
    • 'Triz' Trzcinskias 'Triz' Trzcinski
    • Director
      • Billy Wilder
    • Writers
      • Billy Wilder(written for the screen by)
      • Edwin Blum(written for the screen by)
      • Donald Bevan(based on the play by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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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 reviews174

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Underrated? - understatement!
    In his lengthy and eventful career, Billy Wilder created many films that have rightly attained classic status, but his WWII prisoner of war comedy-drama Stalag 17 is arguably one of his best. The scripting is a perfect example of how to marry a tight plot with sharp dialogue and great characters, and the acting is flawless on all counts. While William Holden's performance as the cynical American sergeant rightly won him an Oscar, it is the comic antics of Robert Strauss and Harvey Lembeck that steal the show. And if there was ever a more entertaining ensemble of previously unseen (and sadly subsequently unheard of) supporting players - with the possible exception of Casablanca - I would love to see it. This film predates the more famous WWII pow film The Great Escape by more than a decade, but had Wilder, Holden and company not caused havoc in Stalag 17, the world would never have seen Steve McQueen play the cooler king with such wry aplomb. Stalag 17 is easily one of the finest films of its time, if not of all time, and I would encourage anyone who has never experienced its unique blend of cynicism, comedy, suspense and drama to check it out at the earliest available opportunity.
    helpful•81
    18
    • jmcsween90
    • Feb 28, 2000

    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
      • June 6, 1953 (United States)
    • 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
    • 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

    Related news

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    William Holden, Harvey Lembeck, and Robert Strauss in Stalag 17 (1953)
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