The Colditz Story (DVD)

The Colditz Story (1954)



Directed by Guy Hamilton

Staring John Mills, Eric Portman, Christopher Rhodes, Lionel Jeffries, Bryan Forbes.
Format Black & White, PAL
Language English
Region Region 2
Aspect Ratio 1.33:1
Number of discs 1
Classification Universal
Studio Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date 18 April 2005
Run Time 93 minutes ...
...soldiers, mainly airman, fell into the hands of their enemies. This happened all over Europe in all the different theatres. Depending on where you were captured you would be put into the nearest POW camp.
However Colditz Castle was a POW camp with a difference. This was reserved especially for those who had attempted previous escape attempts from other camps in and around Germany. And had therefore proved themselves a menace to the German ... more

The Colditz Story (1954)

Directed by Guy Hamilton

During WW2 many allied soldiers, mainly airman, fell into the hands of their enemies. This happened all over Europe in all the different theatres. Depending on where you were captured you would be put into the nearest POW camp.
However Colditz Castle was a POW camp with a difference. This was reserved especially for those who had attempted previous escape attempts from other camps in and around Germany. And had therefore proved themselves a menace to the German war effort. Colditz Castle was thought to be, by the Germans and some of its prisoners, impossible to escape from, after all it was an old medieval castle.
However there were those inside who had already proved themselves to be ingenious and to have a thirst for freedom. Some of these individuals became quite famous for their ingenuity and escape attempts. Not only among their own peers, but also among the Germans alike. Famous inmates that are well known today include Douglas Bader, who famously flew with the RAF despite having lost both his legs in a plane crash earlier in his career, and had many enemy kills credited to his name. Also Pat Reid, who famously escaped dressed as a German Officer, and went onto write 'The Colditz Story', his account of his time 'behind the wire' (also the basis for this film). He also went onto create 'Escape from Colditz'. One of the best WW2 related board games ever created. Definitely worth a look at if you haven't already played it.
The film itself is, as I've said Pat Reid's story inside Colditz. However it does entail many a sub story, as too what life was like inside the camp, and does portray many escape attempts and other characters involvement in the camp.
The film explores the difficulties that the POWs had to overcome in order to try and escape. They soon learn that the mixed nations within the camp (Dutch, British, Polish, Americans, French) have to work together in order to succeed in escaping. We also see a harrowing side to how being 'behind the wire' can affect the men who have had their freedom taken away. This often results in a suicidal desperation towards escaping that does in some instances end in tragedy.
When watching this film you have to bear in mind that this is, primarily, one mans story, and therefore expect the story line to be based around his experiences and perceptions of what went on in Colditz Castle. Don't expect a documentary giving everyone's point of view because you won't get it, as this is not the aim of the film.
The film has some great acting performance most memorably by John Mills, and overall this is not a low budget film. There has been no expense spared the production and there are some spectacular views of the Castle.
The DVD has no real special features, which is a shame. But as the film was made in 1954 we can excuse them for this. There is however the original theatrical trailer, which is interesting and definitely worth a watch.

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