THE COLDITZ STORY was an important film for me to watch because I had no real idea what Colditz was before watching, and yet the subject matter remains popular in the movies, on TV, and even in board games. It turns out that Colditz was a German castle utilised during WW2 to act as a prisoner of war camp for high-ranking British, French, and Dutch prisoners.This is a stark black and white POW film with much to recommend, although at the same time it's not the best of the genre. That's because THE COLDITZ STORY simply doesn't elicit as much tension as the truly great films of the genre, and even a lower budgeted and simpler story like ALBERT, R.N. did better. That's because THE COLDITZ STORY explores many different escape attempts from the castle rather than building up to a single big one, so it feels a bit episodic by comparison.The film looks good and benefits from brisk direction and the like. The cast is exemplary, although the characters are less sympathetic than they ought to be; put this down to the script. John Mills and Lionel Jeffries are a good double act and Eric Portman adds sensitivity and dignified gravitas to his part of the old-timer. Others like Bryan Forbes, Richard Wattis, and Anton Diffring play more clichéd parts but are still fun to watch, bringing to life characters who would otherwise be dullish with other actors in the roles.

Guy Hamilton directs and co-adapts the screenplay with Ivan Foxwell from the P.R. Reid novel of the same name. A story based on actual facts, it stars John Mills, Lionel Jeffries, Bryan Forbes, Anton Diffring, Richard Wattis, Ian Carmichael and Eric Portman. Music is by Francis Chagrin and cinematography by Gordon Dines. The story essentially follows the repeated escape attempts by allied prisoners held at Colditz Castle. It shows the hard luck stories, the bonds that are formed between the men, the regime and day to day life they lived by, and of course it builds to the historical finale. It's structured with great balance by the makers, who manage to wring out a number of tense sequences whilst also ensuring that humour shines brightly. It gives the pic the requisite feel of stiff upper lippery, imbuing the characters with justifiable heroism in the face of being a POW, which all told plays as inspirational stuff. Acted with aplomb by a notable cast, this delightful pic harks back to a a grand time of British film making, while simultaneously doffing its cap towards the real life allied soldiers who wound up in war prison establishments. 8/10

Guy Hamilton reconstructs an account based on the Highly Secure German Camp back in the 40's. It's has a lot of the schema that would be utilized 8 years later in "The Great Escape" and its escape scene has been subject to affectionate parody (e.g. The Simpsons). Let it suffice to say though that not a lot of people are aware of this film; it's an archaic film definitely, and it has sufficiently identifiable characters under an oppressive system. One of them are even thrown into solitary confinement due to the ruthless attempt of escaping and getting in the way of the French. Even in the face of peril, one man tried to escape but was unfortunately caught by bullets - It's too militarized to be subverted.It is divided into the French, Dutch, Polish and English (the English are the ones to triumph in this picture)Pat Reid (John Mills) and Mac McGill (Christopher Rhodes) are two English people, who contravene the rules in order to give people their home run. It can be humorous, in places where they sneer at the Germans and it really is poignant and terrifying how convincingly shot it can be as well.It plots a lot on the German Leader, the interpreter and the Commanding Officers who rule the place with an iron fist and a totalitarian output. A lot of the time, the movie can become quite boring, and fall flat in places feeling dormant (for example: when they're discussing the obvious about the escape plan, the bit where they all walk in single file rows, the beginning scenes setting everything up in respective order, the bit when they try to pick the escapist- craftsman leader, and when you get jolted back up with a slight bit of exhilaration, it gets to the scheming bits and so on that become more interesting (to me at least)). However they are never under any malaise and hide it behind a sardonic exterior, always lurking, and it makes the movie moving somewhat; the bit when one of the prisoners is questioned about this plan, and he then expounds about Lewis Carrol's "Alice and Wonderland" about how she got bigger by eating was establishing a lighter tone to the gritty movie it could have easily been. I do think it to be in my best interest to give this 5, as I think the struggle is handled quite well, but that the movie is befell with some boring sequences, and that it can make you weary about continuing it. But it is still, for me personally, able to objectify me to much of hardships and much of the pretenses established in these times. The accuracy of the movie is dubious however, but from what you see it leaves you without any doubt. It's also not a technically sophisticated movie. The lighting can be a bit underexposed, but this is perhaps deliberately done to give the notion of an unadulterated base and giving it that simply.Guy Hamilton was tinkering around with the movie in a way that is distinctive from other movies that I have seen from that time; John Mills was in another movie in 1958 called "Ice Cold in Alex" and at this point I have yet to see this movie. But it is produced by the same place "British War"... and now I have to be firm about what I think about this movie as a war film: I do like War Films, such as Lean's "Bridge on the River Kawaii" and Kubrick's "Paths of Glory"; seeing this in the same light as "The Colditz Story", I would say that it didn't pace me up with excitement as those other two movies did. Those movies evoked the fears and they tampered with the situation; however, here I knew the outcome. But still even in saying that, I was still really invested in the characters and I felt satisfied after watching it. But it is not one of the greatest war films that I have seen, and nor will it ever stand out that way to me. But I think this one should be looked at and I do recommend it for those who are looking for a true story and want to be swayed away into looking at it.

From today's perspective, the film; The Colditz Story is like that of a reality TV show competition premised on escape methods. The man with the most original escape plan gets the prize, which is that of his freedom from the Colidiz Castle.As such this film seems shallow on the surface. With no depth to the plot the characters are not as convincing, which serves to undermine excellent acting from the likes of Eric Portman and Sir John Mills.However, what the film articulates well is the relaxed attitude of the Nazi guards, and their almost convivial attitude to their British POW foes. Of course the relaxed attitude of the Nazi guards could be in part to do with the self belief they were allotted via the consumption of Nazi propaganda. In this respect 'propaganda' serves as a dangerous weapon of 'self destruction'.In sum this is a film worth watching, but not the best POW film made hitherto.