The Secret War of Harry Frigg (1968)

In 1943, when 5 captured Allied one-star generals cannot agree on an escape plan, the HQ promotes an escape-savvy private to 2-star general and sends him to coordinate the captive VIPs.

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 ...

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Plot Keywords:

prisoner of war | year 1943 | tunisia | turkish bath | playing football | 

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Taglines:

Now he's bugging the army establishment...but this time he's communicating!

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Genres:

Comedy | War

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German

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

This was known as " Meanwhile Far From the Front " when first announced in 1967.

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Goofs

The British Army and Royal Marines eliminated the rank of Brigadier General in 1921. In 1943, as today, the British Army has the rank of Brigadier.

A Brigadier is above a colonel and below a Major General, but British regulations do not consider it a General rank. Rather it's Field Grade, like high colonel.

After NATO was formed, a table standardization made the Brigadier equal to Brigadier General to eliminate confusion.

In 1943, out of Courtesy, American and French officers would treat them as One-Star rank, but in terms of determining command seniority, the would be junior to their American and French counterparts.

If nothing else, the British would never refer to themselves as Brigadier Generals.

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Quotes

Pvt. Harry Frigg: I didn't get captured. I allowed myself to be captured.

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Connections

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

User Reviews

An enjoyable, light comedy

I admit this is not the best thing Paul Newman has done. But it's an entertaining little comedy that is charming and quirky in its own special way. There are plenty of familiar faces, particularly if you watched lots of television in the '60's and '70's. A move that's a bit rough around the edges but still well worth watching on it's own merits.