The major part of this film is an interesting psychological exercise in trying to extract information from shot-down American airmen, with Robert Douglas particularly good as the chief German interrogator. I suspect that if I played back some of the crucial scenes I might occasionally question his logic, but watching the film straight-through he's convincing. Half-a-century after the film was made, it's easy for the viewer to spot many of the traps he sets for his captives, some of whom seem very naive - but then they've been shot down, seen their buddies killed and themselves been injured.
When two of the PoWs escape they have only a few hours in which to warn their comrades that the Germans know their bombing target, but they're able to contact all the right people - albeit by accident - in occupied by France. It'll be no surprise to anyone that in a film of this type they succeed.
Gig Young shows early promise as the "nice guy" among the German interrogators.
When two of the PoWs escape they have only a few hours in which to warn their comrades that the Germans know their bombing target, but they're able to contact all the right people - albeit by accident - in occupied by France. It'll be no surprise to anyone that in a film of this type they succeed.
Gig Young shows early promise as the "nice guy" among the German interrogators.