THE WOODEN HORSE is part of a cycle of British films produced during the Fifties, in which various struggles during the Second World War were replayed, as a way of reminding audiences to feel proud of their country's achievements at a time when Britain's position in the world was becoming less and less influential. The British Empire was crumbling, rationing was still in place, and while Britain still had a seat at the United Nations table, they had very little power to influence world affairs. In Jack Lee's film, the ingenuity of British POWs is celebrated; they not only have the ability to create something out of nothing, but they always seem able to outwit their German captors (whom they term "Goons"). The characters are penetratingly delineated, with Leo Genn's phlegmatic Pete leading the group of three escapees, contrasted with Anthony Steel's more emotional John Clinton. Nonetheless they make an effective pair, especially when they have to negotiate some difficult situations in the German town of Lubeck. David Tomlinson, normally associated with comic roles (as in THE CHILTERN HUNDREDS), has a rare chance to essay a straight role; this he accomplishes with aplomb, as a cheery officer with a unique capacity to make the best of difficult situations. What makes Lee's film most memorable is the fact that it was filmed on location, using German and Danish civilians in supporting roles; they speak both their native languages as well as English. This gives the film a sense of gritty realism, as well as reminding us about just how dangerous the escape plan, using the wooden horse, actually was. Tonally speaking, THE WOODEN HORSE is very matter-of-fact; director Lee is at pains to show that the entire escape was not about heroes, but was actually the British POW's bounden duty. This gives the film a documentary realism that ensures it stands up well today, over sixty years since it was originally released.

This is the true story of how three British soldiers escaped from the German Prisoner Of War (POW) camp, Stalag Luft III, during the Second World War. This is the same POW camp that was the scene for the Great Escape which resulted in the murder of 50 re-captured officers by the Gestapo (and later was made into a very successful movie of the same name). While the other POWs in Stalag Luft III are busy working on their three massive tunnels (known as Tom, Dick & Harry), two enterprising British prisoners came up with the idea to build a wooden vaulting horse which could be placed near the compound wire fence, shortening the distance they would have to tunnel from this starting point to freedom. The idea to build their version of the Trojan Horse came to them while they were discussing 'classic' attempts for escape and observing some POWs playing leap-frog in the compound.Initially containing one, and later with two POWs hidden inside, the wooden horse could be carried out into the compound and placed in almost the same position, near the fence, on a daily basis. While volunteer POWS vaulted over the horse, the escapees were busy inside the horse digging a tunnel from under the vaulting horse while positioned near the wire, under the wire, and into the woods. The story also details the dangers that two of the three escaping POWs faced while traveling through Germany and occupied Europe after they emerged from the tunnel. All three POWs who tried to escape actually hit home runs (escaped successfully to their home base.). The Wooden Horse gives a very accurate and true feeling of the tension and events of a POW breakout. The movie was shot on the actual locations along the route the two POWs traveled in their escape. Made with far less a budget than The Great Escape, The Wooden Horse is more realistic if not more exciting than The Great Escape and never fails to keep you from the edge of your seat rooting for the POWs to make good their escape. The story line is crisp and the acting rings true and is taut enough to keep the tension up all the way through the movie. The Wooden Horse is based on the book of the same name by one of the escapees, Eric Williams, and is, by far, the best POW escape story ever made into a movie. Some of the actual POWs were used in the movie to reprise their existence as prisoners in Stalag Luft III. I give this movie a well deserved ten.

Playing out as a sort of pre runner to The Great Escape some 13 years later, this smashing little British film plays it straight with no thrills and dare do well overkill. First part of the movie is the set up and subsequent escape of our protagonists, whilst the second part concentrates on their survival whilst on the run as they try to reach Sweden. The film relies on pure characters with simple, effective, and yes, believable dialogue to carry it thru, and it achieves its aims handsomely. No little amount of suspense keeps the film ticking along, and as an adventure story it works perfectly for the time frame it adheres to, so a big thumbs to the film that may well be the first of its type? 7/10

The Wooden Horse was one of the first "great" escape stories from World War II, telling the true story of Eric Williams and others in their escape from Stalag-Lufft III in October of 1943. I really like this film, but had to by it on VHS from Amazon in England and get it transferred from PAL format in the U.S. I read the book when I was in hight school, after having seen a portion of the film in the early 60's on T.V. The taunt drama of Peter and John trying to escape from Germany during the war is more realistic than the treck of the escapes portrayed in the Great Escape. This film is a lost treasure, that should be made more available to American audiences.