Stalag 17
1953
Comedy
Drama
2h 0m
Intrigue among Allied prisoners at a World War 2 German POW camp. (imdb)
Directed by:
Your probable score
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Stalag 17
1953
Comedy
Drama
2h 0m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 69.25% from 1322 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews
(1320)
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Rated 31 Dec 2008
4
70th
What an unexpected treat; funny, fun, suspenseful and dramatic, perfectly directed with an airtight script, with great photography and a wonderful cast of multifaceted, diverse characters, lead by William Holden, one of the most charismatic and likable leading men ever produced by Hollywood, in a role that fits him like a glove and plays against the viewer's expectations. If I'm rambling, it's because I can't say enough about this - few films have ever entertained me as much as this one.
Rated 31 Dec 2008
Rated 01 Mar 2009
7
57th
Exciting, enjoyable war flick. It's also funny, even hilarious at times, but humour and POW camps don't get along like peas and carrots. A nice effort from Wilder but not entirely fulfilling. Great ending though.
Rated 01 Mar 2009
Rated 02 Mar 2010
82
78th
An extremely funny picture with a wonderful cast of characters and at the same time a great mystery of who's who. This film has everything, but that may be its biggest fault. It is funny, it is sad, it is fun, and it is suspenseful. and all in a German POW camp. It feels like there was too much of everything, but nonetheless, it is a satisfying and entertaining picture with a great ending, and great characters.
Rated 02 Mar 2010
Rated 27 Apr 2008
90
91st
A magnificent coctail of a movie; switching between comedy and suspense, fun and strictness, this is a tremendously jaunty piece of cinema. Holden is quite reserved, but of course excellent, in his role as the unpopular main-character (although one could argue who the main-character really is), and Sig Ruman convey the almost extraneously farcical being of his character with utter flair (he's simply a joy to watch). Awesome film.
Rated 27 Apr 2008
Rated 21 Feb 2008
4
74th
Billy Wilder was one multifaceted director. It's a perfect mix of drama, suspense, and comedy, even if some of the jokes are a bit hammed up. Wilder's script is, of course, excellent and the actors carry it well. I loved the variety of cast and characters.
Rated 21 Feb 2008
Rated 04 Feb 2013
50
27th
It certainly can't be taken seriously as a war or POW film, that's for sure. But that's okay as it's really just meant to be a piece of entertainment. So is it entertaining? It's not a terrible film by any stretch, but no, not really. As ever, Wilder's attempts at humor are painfully unfunny and the cleverness he is known for (for whatever reason) is nowhere to be seen. I will always love The Apartment and Ace in the Hole, but Stalag 17 is just further confirmation of Wilder's overratedness.
Rated 04 Feb 2013
Rated 02 Sep 2007
88
95th
I beIieve it. [You beIieve what?] My wife. She says: "DarIing, you won't beIieve it" - "but I found an adorabIe baby on our doorstep" - "and I've decided to keep it." - "You won't beIieve it, but it's got exactIy my eyes and nose." Why does she keep saying I don't beIieve it? I beIieve it. ..I beIieve it. ..I beIieve it.
Rated 02 Sep 2007
Rated 31 Dec 2018
50
26th
(Viewed in 2015): Absurdly overrated war film is praised for its seamless mix of comedy and drama, but I didn't laugh much nor was I emotionally involved. It's reasonably well made in a generic old Hollywood style, and there are definitely a few good scenes, but unless you are a big Wilder, Holden or Preminger fan you would be better off watching Grand Illusion instead.
Rated 31 Dec 2018
Rated 02 Jun 2008
89
96th
A great example of comedy in setting that you wouldn't think of as funny, and quite adventurous at that. Extremely well written story and some actors that pull it off quite well. I don't think I'll ever see such an amazing comedy in such dark a setting. This is truly a must watch for everyone who cares about World War II.
Rated 02 Jun 2008
Rated 23 Aug 2007
90
86th
The granddaddy of all POW movies. Billy Wilder scores again
Rated 23 Aug 2007
Rated 17 Feb 2007
73
64th
Fun, but tons of slapstick comedy combined with suspense and action don't really mix.
Rated 17 Feb 2007
Rated 08 Sep 2008
82
62nd
The suspense is great here; the comedy, not that much. Yes, ok, it's a good movie, i really liked, but it's one of the most overrated films i've ever seen. Save your time and go to watch real masterpieces like: Renoir's Grand Illusion, or even Bresson's A Man Escaped.
Rated 08 Sep 2008
Rated 08 Mar 2008
96
91st
Those who think humor and a POW camp don't mix seem to have missed the point. The guys joke around to help deal with their imprisonment. Their frivolity always has a black cloud over it and the laughter is always nervous and hesitant. And the fact that these guys get down to business of escape at a moment's notice (literally), it's apparent these guys took their predicament very seriously. An excellent, moving, memorable film and is highly recommended.
Rated 08 Mar 2008
Rated 22 Jul 2009
91
91st
After my first time watching this film, my thought was simply "Awesome!" I have seen 3 other films from Billy Wilder and I liked them all and Stalag 17 can join the list. I guess me and Billy Wilder shared the same taste in what we want to see in a movie; some drama, some comedy and a little thrill here and there. I just found out William Holden won Best Actor for his role in this movie though I felt like he didn't get much screen time to do a good performance. Good for him.
Rated 22 Jul 2009
Rated 01 Feb 2009
2
16th
Reminded me of many Hogan's Heroes episodes I had to groan my way through at a young age - the writing [specifically, sense of humor & characterizations] is dated beyond belief.
Rated 01 Feb 2009
Rated 04 Jul 2015
80
78th
Falls under the "I love but can't actually sit through" category. It has a great story with engaging characters and the whole idea of it was brilliant. It's just the old school humor and that "Golden Era Hollywood" comedy feel that I can't really take much of.
Rated 04 Jul 2015
Rated 12 Dec 2006
92
97th
Really dark, really cynical, really funny. It's really a film only Billy Wilder could make. The large cast is uniformly excellent and the tense parts are really effective.
Rated 12 Dec 2006
Rated 18 Nov 2015
3
3rd
Stalag 17's desire to please the censors is embarrassing and the seriousness of the whole project feels undermined by a lame attempt at humour.
Rated 18 Nov 2015
Rated 19 Nov 2021
85
68th
I really wasn't into this at first but by the time the second hour starts I was pretty invested. The humor, while sometimes funny, definitely felt forced and really clashed with the subject matter. I don't know, I guess it was just how movies were at this point and it doesn't always land. Holden is freaking fantastic though and absolutely dominates the film when he's on screen.
Rated 19 Nov 2021
Rated 25 Jan 2018
77
77th
Since I grew up with "Hogan's Heroes", I kept expecting a laugh track. A pleasant way to pass two hours, but greatness it isn't.
Rated 25 Jan 2018
Rated 20 Jan 2011
60
39th
I've seen too many prison movies to fully enjoy this one. There is a lot of good scenes and the whole "find-the-rat" element is good, but is reveiled too early. It's just no match for Bridge on the River Kwai, Great Escape or Grande Illusion.
Rated 20 Jan 2011
Rated 28 Sep 2021
3
42nd
After watching this one and Ace in the Hole, Wilder was not certainly the best action-films guy.
Rated 28 Sep 2021
Rated 01 Feb 2008
55
30th
Just can't get into this style of humor in a POW setting. Maybe if these dudes were a baseball team or something.
Rated 01 Feb 2008
Rated 17 Feb 2018
40
14th
A very interesting premise that is absolutely positively ruined by a 1950s horseshit script. Random characters talk like caricatures, either with there terrible dialogue or just by having an over-the-top voice/accent, and are a very jarring when the main characters talk basically normal. I'm just not a big fan of most old movies with scripts like this. Sifting through the other scores it appears I am alone in disliking the comedic relief. Oh well.
Rated 17 Feb 2018
Rated 29 Nov 2018
80
89th
The main gripe here is slapstick mixed with POW, but the humor shines light on the humanity and day-to-day grind where our heroes have no choice but to live within the circumstances given. My favorite bit is how Kylo Ren is a cuck.
Rated 29 Nov 2018
Rated 27 Jun 2012
95
98th
Gets the balance between comedy and drama just right. It's tremendously funny, but at no point do you feel as if it's making fun of the situation or the characters. The camaraderie between the prisoners feels really genuine, and that's what makes the film work. The absolute highlight for me was the "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again" scene where the stoolie is revealed. Outstanding.
Rated 27 Jun 2012
Rated 14 Nov 2010
80
84th
One of the funniest comedies ever made. Even at over 50 years old, "Stalag 17" is still as clever, fresh, and as exciting as the day it was released. Beyond the excellent performances is one of the finest comedy scripts ever written.
Rated 14 Nov 2010
Rated 29 May 2007
73
45th
Wilder's a great plotter of intriguing (and funny) situations, but when he attempts certain kinds of humor it does nothing for me. I believe this would be a better movie without Harry and Animal. They're constantly mugging and wisecracking and buffooning through the picture in a manner that simply doesn't work. Some of the lines from the other guys were real duds, too, but at least Holden always manages to shine. I really enjoyed the suspenseful aspects of this movie. The comedy, not so much.
Rated 29 May 2007
Rated 25 Jan 2010
91
92nd
Great entertainment! The characters play their role to perfection and you can feel the chemistry among the inmates in the prison camp. The portrayal of the German officers is very comical, true to it's genre of a war comedy. The movie does not leave you feeling depressed and hateful at the end. The underlying suspense in the movie keeps you guessing till the end.
Rated 25 Jan 2010
Rated 06 Jul 2007
78
80th
Great movie. The humor is well mixed with drama. Holden's character is just enough of a bastard that you dislike him, but not enough to think he deserves what he gets. Good to compare with King Rat.
Rated 06 Jul 2007
Rated 11 Jan 2012
68
32nd
Maybe I've been spoiled by better POW movies that came out since this one (The Great Escape comes to mind), but this was somewhat of a disappointment. My biggest issue is with the "comedy." I hated - HATED - the Animal character. Never have I seen such broad, goofy comic relief in a movie about an otherwise serious subject. At times it reached into near Three Stooges territory. Holden was decent, but nowhere near Oscar worthy. Same goes for the story.
Rated 11 Jan 2012
Rated 22 Sep 2012
30
18th
Some story, but chock full of stupidity, but of course that was expected from movies of that era. It was definitely not good, although not a complete waste of time either. Too much crap was thrown in to an otherwise simple story.
Rated 22 Sep 2012
Rated 28 Nov 2009
100
95th
One of the very best American movies of the 1950s. Wilder, so good at comedy, proved himself equally adept at drama, and brought a top-drawer performance out of Holden. Features superb photography from Ernest Laszlo, and a wonderful score.
Rated 28 Nov 2009
Rated 20 Jun 2010
80
83rd
During the movie I wasn't sure if the humor and the portrayal of the Germans worked that well, but I think with a few exceptions it really did. The movie is suspenseful as it is entertaining and Holden truly delivers a great performance.
Rated 20 Jun 2010
Rated 20 Dec 2008
95
80th
Something only Billy Wilder could pull off, and boy did he.
Rated 20 Dec 2008
Rated 22 Dec 2012
75
81st
I wasn't really into this at first, mostly because I thought it was going to be a serious film. When it became apparent that it was a comedy, I found it off-putting for a while. By the end, I liked it though. Some pretty funny lines and sequences. While it is a mostly lighthearted affair, it does have its moments of drama, which does create a few problems in terms of tone. In any case, it's a fun time with a great cast and I'll just write it up as yet another good film from Billy Wilder.
Rated 22 Dec 2012
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
93rd
Early Billy Wilder film, but easily one of his best.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 05 Aug 2008
84
83rd
Great movie that highlights the true character of man.
Rated 05 Aug 2008
Rated 14 Aug 2011
78
73rd
This is certainly entertaining, but while I admit some of the humour was good, some was not to my taste; a bit too much slapstick I guess. The drama and the action were a lot more interesting. At times I felt like they were giving away too much and ruining suspense, but it the end they pulled it off nicely. But the highlight of the movie: that's Holden. A great performance.
Rated 14 Aug 2011
Rated 15 Nov 2011
95
93rd
Billy Wilder plays to all of his strengths and makes a classic in the process.
Rated 15 Nov 2011
Rated 16 Oct 2011
83
70th
Thoroughly enjoyable, although much of the humor in the first half felt quite misplaced.
Rated 16 Oct 2011
Rated 04 Mar 2013
67
43rd
Very good POW thriller. Too bad it's also a pretty bad comedy.
Rated 04 Mar 2013
Rated 29 Nov 2012
83
60th
Caper hi-jinx in a Nazi prison camp should by all rights be horrible and awkward, but Billy Wilder should never be underestimated.
Rated 29 Nov 2012
Rated 22 Mar 2013
75
56th
The dramatic stuff is great, gripping and intriguing throughout with some good tension. The comedic stuff isn't so successful, it has a few laughs but most of the time just manages to be amusing and little more (and a couple of the minor characters, Harry and Animal, can get a tad annoying at points). I certainly enjoyed it a lot, but it's far from Wilder's best.
Rated 22 Mar 2013
Rated 17 Dec 2010
77
27th
Loses points with me for being too similar to Grand Illusion, and not being up to par with Wilder's usual masterpieces.
Rated 17 Dec 2010
Rated 29 Jan 2010
93
91st
This comedy about a Nazi prison camp strikes precisely the right balance.
Rated 29 Jan 2010
Rated 17 Jan 2010
85
48th
I used to watch this movie with my dad. It always brings back good memories.
Rated 17 Jan 2010
Rated 27 Jun 2020
85
58th
B+
Rated 27 Jun 2020
Rated 17 Nov 2010
83
33rd
certainly has its moments but i felt the comedic aspect detracted from the overall experience.
Rated 17 Nov 2010
Rated 08 Mar 2014
4
90th
Great movie! Wonderful characters and excellent plot. This movie has it all. It's funny, it's dramatic, it's suspenseful and sometimes heartbreaking. This it what makes it so entertaining, however it's also it's biggest downfall. It actually has too many different genres and at some points, you get confused on what to think, and what too feel. Still very great entertainment. - Very Good
Rated 08 Mar 2014
Rated 11 Mar 2022
100
96th
A daft mix of comedy, drama and suspense that results in one of the best war films ever made.
Rated 11 Mar 2022
Rated 22 Mar 2011
89
54th
Stalag 17 serves as a great example of why it may not be the best idea to talk about operational stuff when stuck even in a nice and accommodating enemy prison. Other than that, it's an okay comedy of sorts where goofy things happen when a bunch of dudes get together and come up with a plan to escape the camp, sprinkled with some serious moments all throughout.
Rated 22 Mar 2011
Rated 12 Mar 2019
89
69th
88.50
Rated 12 Mar 2019
Rated 30 May 2019
78
95th
Stalag 17 is an enjoyable Billy Wilder film with some over the top stereotypes.
Rated 30 May 2019
Rated 26 Aug 2011
75
54th
Oafish humor and a cutesy portrayal of Nazis get in the way of a darn good movie.
Rated 26 Aug 2011
Rated 10 May 2012
80
82nd
Reminded me very much of The Great Escape, probably because they're both WWII prison camp escape movies. This one's definitely a lot more lighthearted most of the time, but still has an intriguing, well-made story. I was a little hesitant about it when I read that it's partly a comedy movie, but the comedy definitely works. It doesn't go and make light of what happened during the war or anything like that.
Rated 10 May 2012
Rated 07 Jan 2009
90
93rd
Billy Wilder's The Man
Rated 07 Jan 2009
Rated 29 Jun 2012
78
79th
esir kampi, amerikalilar, almanlar, hapis, esir, kacis hikayesi, köstebek, ajan, kogusa sokulan Alman ajan var, komedi, askerlik,
Rated 29 Jun 2012
Rated 07 Nov 2021
60
35th
Hard to rate a movie that you thought was something else: I thought this was a serious war movie about a POW camp, akin to La Grande Illusion or The Great Escape. Except there's a peculiar humor which was fine when I readjusted my expectations, but it still felt a little forced so that it wouldn't be simply filled with misery. Still, some good performances, and the mystery spy did have me fooled for a while.
Rated 07 Nov 2021
Rated 31 Jan 2010
4
78th
I can see much of the Great Escape in Stalag 17
Rated 31 Jan 2010
Rated 04 Jan 2007
80
64th
Intriguing WWII POW comedy/drama by BIlly Wilder. From a stage play and shows it. William Holden quite good as attractive rat, with good supporting cast.
Rated 04 Jan 2007
Rated 24 Feb 2018
90
87th
Ano do centenário de William Holden filme #1. Esse filme é tão influente tanto como filme de guerra quanto comédia, de The Great Escape à MASH, que me parece até pecado eu só tê-lo assistido agora, mesmo sendo fã do Billy Wilder de longa data, embora mais na sua condição de pupilo do Lubitsch do que por mérito próprio. HDTVRip MakingOff.
Rated 24 Feb 2018
Rated 21 Feb 2010
9
93rd
I didn't think this was a very funny movie, I just thought it was a great movie. It left me strangely happy with life, which is odd considering the subject matter. It was just really well made with great acting and an incredibly satisfying ending. Holden plays the anti-hero to perfection (in '53 no less). One of Wilder's best films.
Rated 21 Feb 2010
Rated 29 Jul 2013
80
95th
Brilliant.
Rated 29 Jul 2013
Rated 22 Feb 2008
70
45th
At ease!
Rated 22 Feb 2008
Rated 11 Feb 2021
84
90th
An entertaining POW story that dares to find some humor in a dire situation.
Rated 11 Feb 2021
Rated 06 Dec 2017
85
93rd
An excellent balance of comedy and suspense.
Rated 06 Dec 2017
Rated 17 Dec 2012
88
80th
Stalag 17 is an amazing mix of drama and comedy. The story is well written and so astonishingly performed that the whole watching process turns into absorbing experience of witnessing a great movie happening.
Rated 17 Dec 2012
Rated 29 Jul 2012
89
93rd
Too many war movies focus on the combat, bloodshed and tragedy of war and lack the comedy, dance numbers and overall homoeroticism that made WWII what it was. This one makes up for that...and then some.
Rated 29 Jul 2012
Rated 29 Mar 2010
80
80th
I did not find this movie a masterpiece, but certainly is a film that marks the biography of Billy Wilder and only enriches your filmography.
Rated 29 Mar 2010
Rated 05 Jun 2010
83
73rd
The hook about prisoners of war who've cooked up their own unique society in captivity is further enlivened by the colorful nature of the characters, a common result when Wilder's is one of the names on the screenplay. In that great director's hands, the film is shrewd and smart, bolstered by a cynic's wit. William Holden won an Oscar for his performance, and he's indeed quite winning, lacing his line deliveries with equal parts knowing ingenuity and sly charm.
Rated 05 Jun 2010
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