Colditz 

During World War II, four Britons tunnel out of a German POW camp. One is killed, two are recaptured and one escapes. Scottish Corporal Nicholas McGrade, the lone escapee, is a slacker and ... See full summary »

Stars:

Damian Lewis, Sophia Myles, Tom Hardy

1 win.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Damian Lewis	...	Nicholas McGrade 2 episodes, 2005
Sophia Myles	...	Lizzie Carter 2 episodes, 2005
Tom Hardy	...	Jack 2 episodes, 2005
Laurence Fox	...	Willis 2 episodes, 2005
James Fox	...	Lt. Colonel Fordham 2 episodes, 2005
Timothy West	...	Bunny Warren 2 episodes, 2005
Jason Priestley	...	Rhett Barker 2 episodes, 2005
Guy Henry	...	Sawyer 2 episodes, 2005
Robert Whitelock	...	Venning 2 episodes, 2005
Scott Handy	...	Mullan 2 episodes, 2005
Juliet Howland	...	Mary 2 episodes, 2005
Eve Myles	...	Jill 2 episodes, 2005
Joseph Beattie	...	Barnes 2 episodes, 2005
Rüdiger Vogler	...	Fritz Werner 2 episodes, 2005
Luke Neal	...	Hewitt 2 episodes, 2005
Werner Daehn	...	Ullman 2 episodes, 2005
Armin Dillenberger	...	Meisner 2 episodes, 2005
Charles Edwards	...	Ellways / ... 2 episodes, 2005
Daniel Hawksford	...	Cole / ... 2 episodes, 2005
Stephane Cornicard	...	Leblanc 2 episodes, 2005
Robert Cambrinus	...	Tony de Jongh 2 episodes, 2005

Storyline

During World War II, four Britons tunnel out of a German POW camp. One is killed, two are recaptured and one escapes. Scottish Corporal Nicholas McGrade, the lone escapee, is a slacker and reluctant soldier, but is coerced into the secret MI9 Unit and participates in the facilitation of other escapes. Wills and Jack Rose, the two escapees who were recaptured, are transferred to Colditz, a medieval castle in Saxony which has been refitted as an escape-proof, high security institution to house recitative prisoners who repeatedly attempt to escape. At Rose's request, McGrade looks up Rose's girlfriend in Britain only to find out he is falling in love with her. When the faithful Lizzie rejects the advances of the smitten McGrade, he uses his influence to fake Jack's death so as to clear any obstacles to Lizzie.

---

Plot Keywords:

male full frontal nudity | tv mini series | male frontal nudity | 1940s | prisoner of war | 

---

Taglines:

Brothers In Arms... Rivals In Love

---

Genres:

Drama | War

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violence, language, nudity and drug use

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 March 2005 (UK)

Also Known As:

Fuga de Colditz

Filming Locations:

Kutná Hora, Stredoceský, Czech Republic

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada Television,Power,Powercorp

Technical Specs

Runtime:

185 min (2 parts) 184 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the reasons Colditz was suitable to be refitted as a POW camp was that it was built on an outcropping of solid rock, making tunneling almost impossible. After serving as a general POW camp in 1939, it was later converted into a high security camp for recidivist escapees, the only amp in which guards outnumbered prisoners, the majority of the which were initially British, French, Poles, and Dutch. All in all, 130 prisoners escaped the grounds but depending on the source referenced, only 30, 31, or 32 of these were ultimately "home runs."

---

Goofs

Most of the cars have Berlin license plates, despite the fact that the action takes place near Leipzig.

---

Quotes

Nicholas McGrade: They're dropping me on the Italian border. Secure a couple of rat-lines.
Bunny Warren: [Sarcastically] What do you want... a kiss?
Nicholas McGrade: Not from you.
[after a pause]
Nicholas McGrade: Are you married?
Bunny Warren: [Turning to face him] Queer as a coconut! Didn't they tell you? You want fatherly advice? Well, you won't get it here!

---

Connections

Features Young and Innocent (1937)

---

Soundtracks

Blue Danube Waltz
Composed by Johann Strauss
Heard when pages crammed with phonograph records are opened)

User Reviews

Colditz catastrophe

Does anyone do any research for programmes any more? The holes in the production of "Colditz" were too numerous to mention, and the plot too ridiculous to contemplate.

The history of Colditz must be so well documented that practically everyone must know that the first Brit to make a home run from the castle was Airey Neave, and he did not escape by way of disguising himself as an electrician and borrowing his three-wheeler. (Such an ingenious impersonation was tried, but the would be escapee was caught and photographed next to the unfortunate tradesman.) To be fair, the feature movie "The Colditz Story" was also at fault here, as it depicted Pat Reid as making the first Brit home run, but it's closing remarks did make an acknowledgement of Neave's achievement.

In this latest effort little was made in capturing the flavour of situations and events (or hunger). Even a smattering of truth would have made all the difference, but then the silly love triangle turned the whole thing into a laughable fiasco. I have nothing against the inclusion of romance into such historical series, but here the facts were changed to fit the story. This should never be done but sadly it often is. As for the misguided depictions of mock executions, all surviving Colditz POWs (and indeed guards) seeing this, must be shaking their heads in utter disbelief.

The closing credits included a statement that the production was based in part on recent documentaries. I suggest the producers etc. should study them a little closer and talk to survivors, instead of resorting to uninspired artistic licence. I also suggest they should read the many books and websites on the subject. It's not difficult to find the truth if the time is taken to look for it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airey_Neave

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colditz_Castle