Stalag 17
After two American prisoners are killed by guards in the act of escaping from a German POW camp in World War II, barracks black marketeer J.J. Sefton is suspected of being an informer.
Critics Sentiment
Sefton accuses Price and reveals the German spy messaging system
Barracks men brutally beat Sefton believing he's the informant
The dramatic shift from Sefton being brutally beaten as the suspected traitor to his triumphant exposure of the real spy Price represents the film's most powerful emotional transformation.
Stalag 17 begins as an entertaining comedy-drama that gradually builds mystery and suspense around the identity of the German informant. The film reaches its emotional low point when the innocent Sefton is brutally beaten, then soars to its peak as he brilliantly exposes the real traitor. Critics consistently praised Wilder's masterful balance of comedy and drama, though some found certain comedic elements dated.
Full cast
William Holden
Sgt. J.J. Sefton
Robert Strauss
Sgt. Stanislaus 'Animal' Kuzawa
Don Taylor
Lt. James Dunbar
Otto Preminger
Oberst von Scherbach
Harvey Lembeck
Sgt. Harry Shapiro
Richard Erdman
Sgt. 'Hoffy' Hoffman
Peter Graves
Sgt. Frank Price
Neville Brand
Duke
Sig Ruman
Sgt. Johann Sebastian Schulz
Michael Moore
Sgt. Manfredi
Peter Baldwin
Sgt. Johnson
Robinson Stone
Joey
Robert Shawley
Sgt. 'Blondie' Peterson
William Pierson
Marko the Mailman
Gil Stratton
Sgt. Clarence Harvey 'Cookie' Cook
Jay Lawrence
Sgt. Bagradian
Erwin Kalser
Geneva Man
Edmund Trzcinski
'Triz' Trzcinski
Crew
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