Stars: John Mills, Eric Portman, Lionel Jeffries, Bryan Forbes, Ian Carmichael

Director: Guy Hamilton

Summary: True account of British P.O.Ws who plan their escape from Germany's ultimate fortress.

A true account of the experiences of the World War II prisoners of war who had the misfortune to be imprisoned in Germany's ultimate fortress - Colditz Castle. A daring escape saga.

WIN DVDs by rating this DVD

Average User Rating:

Reviewed by: davybozal24-7
Posted on May 2, 2006 3:11 PM

Easily the best British prisoner - of war yarn , made in 1955 and directed by Guy Hamilton . The Colditz Story dramatises the true - life
adventures of a British officer , Captain Pat Reid , incarcerated in the
impregnable Colditz , where the Germans sent their most troublesome captives - the ones who constantly tried to escape from other prison camps . Despite being threatened with death if they attempt to flee , a tunnel is planned . Can they do the impossible ?
Stars the iconic John Mills , plus Eric Portman , Bryan Forbes and
many other stalwarts . Great boys own adventure lasting 93 minutes
and in black and white .

WIN DVDS by being amongst the first to review this DVD. Reviewing DVDs earns you bonus entries and lets you WIN DVDs!Please login before reviewing this DVD. If you're a new user, register for free and enter to WIN FREE DVDs!

Something of a cult item among British war movies (and brilliantly spoofed a few years back by a lager ad), The Dam Busters turns a minor World War II incident into a saga of heroic stiff-upper-lippery in the classic British style. A bombing raid is proposed on a strategically vital Ruhr dam, but its position is inaccessible. Enter eccentric inventor Dr Barnes Wallis (Michael Redgrave in best daffy professor mode) who comes up with a genius idea--a bomb that will bounce on water like a skimmed pebble. Naturally the top brass pooh-pooh it, but gallant Wing Commander Guy Gibson (Richard Todd) is persuaded, and between them flyer and boffin forge ahead. The touches of carefully understated emotion now verge on self-parody, but it's hard not to get caught up in the narrative sweep, especially when the bombers take off on their mission and Eric Coates' stirring march hits the soundtrack. The modelwork, state-of-the-art for its early 1950s period, still looks impressive, and the death of Gibson's beloved black Labrador (embarrassingly called Nigger) is a three-hanky moment to rival the shooting of Bambi's mum. --Philip Kemp

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Original Theatrical Trailer
Year:	1954
Release Date:	April 18, 2005
Runtime:	93 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	D 038083
Label:	Essential War Collection
Keywords:	War, Story, Colditz
Genre:	War