Stalag 17

1953, War, 2h 0m

38 Reviews 10,000+ Ratings

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critics consensus

Stalag 17 survives the jump from stage to screen with flying colors, thanks to Billy Wilder's typically sterling direction and a darkly funny script. Read critic reviews

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Stalag 17 Photos

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Movie Info

One night in 1944 in a German POW camp housing American airmen, two prisoners try to escape the compound and are quickly discovered and shot dead. Among the remaining men, suspicion grows that one of their own is a spy for the Germans. All eyes fall on Sgt. Sefton (William Holden) who everybody knows frequently makes exchanges with German guards for small luxuries. To protect himself from a mob of his enraged fellow inmates, Sgt. Sefton resolves to find the true traitor within their midst.

Cast & Crew

William Holden
Sgt. J.J. Sefton
Otto Preminger
Col. von Scherbach
Robert Strauss
Stanislas "Animal" Kasava
Don Taylor
Lt. James Skylar Dunbar
Harvey Lembeck
Harry "Sugar Lips" Shapiro
Richard Erdman
Hoffy
Peter Graves
Price
Neville Brand
Duke
Sig Ruman
Sgt. Johann Sebastian Schulz
Michael Moore
Manfredi
Peter Baldwin
Johnson
Robinson Stone
Joey
Robert Shawley
Blondie Peterson
William Pierson
Marko the Mailman
Gil Stratton
Clarence Harvey Cook
Jay Lawrence
Bagradian
Billy Wilder
Director
Donald Bevan
Writer
Edmund Trzcinski
Writer
Billy Wilder
Writer
Edwin Blum
Writer
Billy Wilder
Producer
Franz Waxman
Original Music
Leonid Raab
Original Music
Ernest Laszlo
Cinematographer
George Tomasini
Film Editing
Franz Bachelin
Art Director
Hal Pereira
Art Director
Sam Comer
Set Decoration
Ray Moyer
Set Decoration
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Critic Reviews for Stalag 17

All Critics (38) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (1)
Full Review… Nell Minow Common Sense Media Full Review… David Parkinson Empire Magazine Full Review… Don Druker Chicago Reader Full Review… James Berardinelli ReelViews Full Review… Variety Staff Variety Full Review… Douglas Pratt Hollywood Reporter Full Review… André Bazin L'Obs (France) Full Review… Manny Farber The Nation Full Review… Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Full Review… Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Full Review… Josh Slater-Williams The Skinny Full Review… Tony Sloman Radio Times
View All Critic Reviews (38)

Audience Reviews for Stalag 17

  • Sep 29, 2016
    There's probably a version of this movie that's an unrelenting pressure cooker but Wilder's trademark wit takes the movie down a more interesting and entertaining path. Holden's performance is perfection.
    Alec B Super Reviewer
  • Aug 05, 2015
    There is some good period comedy and loads of fun interplay to be had here, but the proceedings are anchored by an outstanding performance from William Holden. Where the film suffers is in its repetitive cuts to the film's comedic relief duo, and a mostly useless narration. The direction and cinematography are also skillful and adept. I wouldn't consider this a must watch for newer audiences, though the film is quite good if not a little long for its simplistic story.
    Paris S Super Reviewer
  • May 21, 2014
    A group of American POWs discovers that there is an informant in their midst. Kind of a war movie lite, Stalag 17 is more entertaining than moving and more delightful than most war films typically are. William Holden's characteristic insouciance fits right in, and the rest of the cast basically follows suit. Once one gives in to the film's tone, it becomes worth watching, even if the reveal comes too early, diffusing most of the potential suspense. Overall, this is a strong, entertaining, genre-defying film, but it's not perfect.
    Jim H Super Reviewer
  • Apr 07, 2014
    Another great performance by the underrated William Holden bolsters this POW film that finds the elusive mix between dark comedy and serious drama.
    John B Super Reviewer
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