A somewhat happy-go-lucky bunch of Brits in a German POW camp find their new acerbic fellow prisoner is a key officer who must be got out at all cost.A somewhat happy-go-lucky bunch of Brits in a German POW camp find their new acerbic fellow prisoner is a key officer who must be got out at all cost.A somewhat happy-go-lucky bunch of Brits in a German POW camp find their new acerbic fellow prisoner is a key officer who must be got out at all cost.
Ronald Leigh-Hunt
- Clynes
- (as Ronald Leigh Hunt)
- Director
- Writers
- Jack Davies
- Henry Blyth
- John Foley(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen James Robertson Justice's character shouts at the Lageroffizier, it translates as "You can kiss my arse, you filthy Nazi!" Possibly, James Robertson Justice, who spoke fluent German, ad-libbed this, certain that the rest of the crew probably wouldn't understand it, most of the audience wouldn't and the censors undoubtedly wouldn't (or get the jokes).
- GoofsWhen the Times Crossword is first introduced to the prisoners, the clue for 1 Across is stated as "What did Jupiter drop?" However, when Farrow has completed it, we see the 1 Across clue as "Preserve of Fiction" (solution:"ramjam"). Furthermore, the crossword is numbered #4548 whilst the solution to the previous day's crossword = #9547 - the leading "9" having been amended to a "4".
- Quotes
Sir Ernest Pease KBE FRS: Cooking requires no intelligence. Were it otherwise women would be no good at it.
- ConnectionsFeatured in War Stories (2006)
Featured review
Light-hearted comedy-drama, with excellent cast
VERY IMPORTANT PERSON
(USA: Coming-Out Party)
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Sound format: Mono
(Black and white)
Internees at a German POW camp plot the escape of a high-ranking British scientist (James Robertson Justice) who has fallen into enemy hands.
Entertaining mixture of comedy and drama, directed with cut-throat efficiency by Ken Annakin (later responsible for blockbusters like BATTLE OF THE BULGE and CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG), and headlined by some of the most popular names in contemporary British cinema, including Leslie Phillips and Jeremy Lloyd as upper-class comic relief, and Stanley Baxter playing dual roles as a temperamental Scottish prisoner and an unpleasant Nazi officer (when the German calls him a 'British swine', Baxter retorts with haughty pride: "SCOTTISH swine!"). Robertson is at his most gruff and lovable here, initially appalled by the company he's forced to keep in the POW camp, then quietly appreciative of the lengths these 'idiots' will go to secure his safety. The tone is pretty low-key, which means the film isn't always as funny or as suspenseful as it could have been, but it's a hugely enjoyable treat nonetheless. Eric Sykes, Richard Wattis and John Le Mesurier are featured in supporting roles.
(USA: Coming-Out Party)
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Sound format: Mono
(Black and white)
Internees at a German POW camp plot the escape of a high-ranking British scientist (James Robertson Justice) who has fallen into enemy hands.
Entertaining mixture of comedy and drama, directed with cut-throat efficiency by Ken Annakin (later responsible for blockbusters like BATTLE OF THE BULGE and CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG), and headlined by some of the most popular names in contemporary British cinema, including Leslie Phillips and Jeremy Lloyd as upper-class comic relief, and Stanley Baxter playing dual roles as a temperamental Scottish prisoner and an unpleasant Nazi officer (when the German calls him a 'British swine', Baxter retorts with haughty pride: "SCOTTISH swine!"). Robertson is at his most gruff and lovable here, initially appalled by the company he's forced to keep in the POW camp, then quietly appreciative of the lengths these 'idiots' will go to secure his safety. The tone is pretty low-key, which means the film isn't always as funny or as suspenseful as it could have been, but it's a hugely enjoyable treat nonetheless. Eric Sykes, Richard Wattis and John Le Mesurier are featured in supporting roles.
helpful•170
- Libretio
- Mar 10, 2005
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Very Important Person
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 38 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1
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