| William Holden sees the sunshine in Billy Wilder’s “Stalag 17” from 1953. |
I averted Stalag
17, regardless of my admiration for Billy Wilder and William Holden, as a result of I
grew up subjected to Hogan’s Heroes
reruns, and thought they had been mainly the identical story. I’m amazed that sitcom
nonetheless has admirers, as a result of whilst slightly child, I noticed that the present was
extremely sanitized, foolish, and worst of all, unfunny. The creator of Hogan’s Heroes claimed there was no deliberate
imitation of Stalag 17 from the present.
Regardless of the actual fact each tales featured a sensible aleck American soldier, a dopey
German sergeant, and a preening German colonel, with the wiley American POWs all the time
outwitting the inept Nazi captors. But, they are completely different—by way of high quality and depth.
I added Stalag
17 to my listing of 2025 traditional movies to look at that I had by no means beforehand seen.
And in contrast to Hogan’s Heroes, I used to be
wowed by these POWs!
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| “Stalag 17” got here out a dozen years earlier than “Hogan’s Heroes” aired, however was nonetheless extra gritty and satiric, due to Billy Wilder. |
Since Billy Wilder directed Stalag 17, it’s no shock that the
story isn’t watered down. The POW camp comedy-drama remains to be gritty. Billy
Wilder’s tackle warfare and its spoils could seem cynical to some, I discover Wilder’s
outlook lifelike. He lined comparable themes in 1948’s A International Affair, with John Lund because the soldier/black market
profiteer. Stalag 17 is a microcosm
of life throughout wartime.
Contemplating Stalag 17 is generally stage certain in a jail barracks, the movie is stylishly advised.
In a nutshell, there’s a rat within the ranks of Stalag 17. Most of his fellow
prisoners suppose it’s William Holden’s opportunist. Whereas that plot expertly
unfolds, this stage play is ideal for the intimacy of movie to concentrate on the
characters, as that is actually a personality piece. The way in which of photographing them
interacting or having a solo second is completed imaginatively, so it’s not stagey.
The fellows get outdoors sufficient within the drab jail yard, which it breaks the
monotony and brings some drab environment.
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| Amidst the satire & antics, scenes like this present the grim actuality of “Stalag 17.” |
Stalag 17 boasts a big and
various ensemble solid. There’s hardly a dud within the bunch. They give the impression of being realistically
lean, scruffy, and soiled. They’re fairly a mixture of personalities and so they play
their archetypes admirably and entertainingly. Holden’s the star, however Wilder
doesn’t make it a star automobile, he’s a part of an ensemble, and Invoice leads
admirably.
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| William Holden’s keen to barter because the barracks profiteer, in 1953’s “Stalag 17.” |
Wilder’s subversive subtext is there in Stalag 17, with the boys’s interplay
with the Germans and one another. The 2 teams are all the time attempting to outfox
one another. After all, the Germans are the captors so that they have the ball. However
the POWs received sport.
Did William Holden rightly win the Greatest Actor
Oscar that yr? Forged because the lead in an ensemble piece is hard. Pundits will
query whether or not a star gained on their very own steam or had been they bolstered by the
nice solid. Invoice was on a roll after Sundown
Blvd., so it was a preferred win and a profession Oscar, as nicely.
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| William Holden is suspected of being the barracks rat in 1953’s “Stalag 17.” |
William Holden as J.J. Sefton is cynical,
Wilder-style. Invoice’s Sefton makes probably the most of his enforced keep at Stalag 17. He’s
genial when mixing it up and doing enterprise with the blokes, however powerful and
cynical on the subject of realities of camp life. Holden in all probability introduced some
of his ambivalent emotions about studio period stardom to his character’s utilizing
his appeal to reach a corrupt setting.
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| William Holden gained an Oscar as prisoner/profiteer J.J. Sefton in 1953’s “Stalag 17.” |
Even William Holden felt the lead character as
the cynical barracks profiteer was a bit too unlikable—and Invoice had fought to
get away from a decade’s price of “Smiling Jim” roles within the ‘40s. Wilder received
his approach, although there’s a nudge on the finish, when the good Invoice Holden comes
out—as he is escaping the barracks!
Otto Preminger’s cool appeal is additional sinister
for Colonel von Scherbach. Sig Ruman is the clownish Sgt. Schulz, which Hogan’s Heroes later borrowed. Each characters
are comedian villains, which permit Wilder to satirize them much more.
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| Otto Preminger, because the charming/creepy Colonel in 1953’s “Stalag 17.” |
Robert Strauss is comedian aid, “The Animal,” considerably
like John Belushi in Animal Home.
And Strauss additionally appears to have been an inspiration to Brad Garrett’s persona,
who got here to fame as Robert on Everybody
Loves Raymond. Strauss’ “Animal” and companion in crime, Shapiro, are a bit
a lot at instances, however Wilder knew the grim premise wanted some broad comedian aid.
Harvey Lembeck, an skilled comedian actor, is Harry Shapiro, the smart man/straight
man for “The Animal.”
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| Robert Strauss goes massive as “The Animal” in 1953’s “Stalag 17.” After one scene with Strauss, I noticed the place Brad “Everybody Loves Raymond” Garrett received his shtick! |
Neville Model is baby-faced right here as sullen
Duke, the barracks bellyacher. He’s too good, I wished Holden’s Sefton to belt
him one! Jay Lawrence as Bagradian, one of many new prisoners, was a fascinating
persona, stuffed with imitations. And why not, he was the brother of F Troop’s live-wire, Larry Storch. Gil
Stratton is “Cookie” Cook dinner, who narrates and is Sefton’s wingman. He affords
everyman likeability and perception to J.J. Sefton’s persona. Robinson Stone is
silently superior as Joey, the traumatized soldier.
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| Jay Lawrence (heart) is a stay wire as the brand new POW in “Stalag 17.” |
Robert Shawley is lovable as “Blondie” Peterson
and William Pierson very amusing as Marko the Mailman—my gaydar went off for
each! Shawley has hardly has any traces, however is correct within the combine, and is kind of
pure. Oddly, his subsequent profession went nowhere. And Pierson, along with his nasal
rat a tat supply of the barrack’s bulletins is kind of hilarious.
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| Robert Shawley as “Blondie” Peterson, “Stalag 17’s” platinum twink! |
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| Keep in mind David Bowie as a WWII POW in “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence?” |
On the draw back, there’s two quite dud
performances, however they’re not dangerous sufficient to harm Stalag 17. Peter Graves is Frank Value, who’s in command of barracks
safety. Graves is respectable however not particularly dynamic, which is why he by no means
turned a prime star in motion pictures or tv. He was a type of actors, like
Robert Stack, who acted along with his voice, like a radio announcer. Don Taylor,
boring as all the time, is Dunbar, one of many newest captives. You could bear in mind him as
the groom within the unique Father of the
Bride.
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| Peter Graves as barracks safety, barely will get by in 1953’s “Stalag 17.” |
Stalag 17 is a strong two hours,
however strikes at tempo, particularly spectacular because it’s a filmed play, with
a lot of the motion happening contained in the barracks. Billy Wilder’s approach with
actors, skilled storytelling, and willingness to push the envelope, all play to Stalag 17’s benefit.
I don’t just like the warfare film style and but I used to be
mesmerized your complete time by Stalag 17.
And I’m happy so as to add this movie traditional to my traditional movie weblog. And in case you
like my weblog, click on Observe without spending a dime! https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/
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| See the hyperlink beneath for a superb copy of 1953’s “Stalag 17.” |
Right here is a wonderful, free copy of Stalag 17 to look at on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njcqwleu9kc
My take a look at William Holden’s breakout yr as
an actor right here: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2022/04/william-holdens-golden-year-1950.html
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| Look who came around “Stalag 17,” all the best way from “Sundown Blvd.!” Norma Desmond herself, i.e. Miss Gloria Swanson. Possibly she wished to see if Otto Preminger was considering being her new butler! |
