The One That Got Away (1957)

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

Director:

Roy Ward Baker (as Roy Baker)

Writers:

Howard Clewes (screenplay), Kendal Burt (book)

Stars:

Hardy Krüger, Colin Gordon, Michael Goodliffe

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hardy Krüger	...	Franz Von Werra
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

Storyline

This is the true story of Oberleutnant Franz von Werra, the only German prisoner of war to escape from imprisonment in Britain during the Second World War.

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Plot Keywords:

escape | german | dossier | hero | bravado | 

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Taglines:

The "Impossible" Escape That Aroused the World!

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 November 1957 (UK)

Also Known As:

Einer kam durch

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Julian Wintle Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.75: 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Hardy Krüger was only cast after Kenneth More and Dirk Bogarde had turned the film down.

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Goofs

When Von Werra ducks beside the ice-covered road to avoid a car, the car is an early '50's Chrysler product, even though the story is set in the winter of 1940-41.

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Quotes

Franz von Werra: Now shall I go to a prison camp?
RAF Interrogator: You ask that question too often. You're not going to escape.
Franz von Werra: Squadron Leader, I bet you a magnum of Champagne to ten cigarettes I do escape - within six months.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: SEPTEMBER 5th 1940 WINCHET HILL, KENT.

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Connections

Referenced in Doing Time (1979)

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Soundtracks

Horch, was kommt von draußen rein
(uncredited)
Traditional

User Reviews

Anecdotal

I'm somewhat biased about this film - which really is a great piece of story telling - because my Dad was in it! He was doing his National Service at the time the film was made, and the Army provided squaddies as extras in the search scenes.

When Von Werra is captured in a boggy patch my Dad is the corporal who provides a spare poncho to keep the German officer warm. He even has a line... "Yes, I've got one Sir." or something to that effect. Last time the film was shown in the U.K. his speech was rather badly edited out, much to the dismay of his loyal following.

I think the film works really well at putting you on the side of the captive, so that even watching from a partisan British perspective it is hard not to want him to succeed in outwitting his gaolers.

The only flaw for me is the slightly romanticised crossing of The St. Lawrence. By this stage the director is going for such a sympathetic depiction of Von Werra that he seems almost childlike. I think Von Werra was a sufficiently capable media manipulator for his version of events to have percolated down into the film. He wanted to be seen as a romantic, chivalrous hero but maybe he was tougher and more ruthless than he would have us believe?

Overall a great story, based on real events and characters, with some wonderful film making. Watch it, and watch out for my Dad!