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.
Directed by Billy Wilder
chess
escape
spy
world war ii
guard
plant
based on play or musical
black and white
security
christmas
barracks
prisoner of war camp
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
4.0 / 5
Where to Watch
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
Crew
Billy Wilder
Director
Billy Wilder
Writer
Franz Waxman
Original Music Composer
Ernest Laszlo
Director of Photography
Billy Wilder
Producer
Franz Bachelin
Art Direction
Sam Comer
Set Decoration
Wally Westmore
Makeup Supervisor
Popular Reviews
72 reviews
Isaac Howson
8.0★ · 12/30/25
Another Christmas classic
William Holden steals the show and plenty of cigarettes.
Another Christmas classic
William Holden steals the show and plenty of cigarettes.
Jonathan Snee
Jumped to the top of my list of 'keep one cast member, recast the rest as Muppets' movies.
Jumped to the top of my list of 'keep one cast member, recast the rest as Muppets' movies.
christy
8.0★ · 11/02/25
It's been said plenty of times and I'll say it again. Billy Wilder's range was absolutely insane.
It's been said plenty of times and I'll say it again. Billy Wilder's range was absolutely insane.
Will CollingwoodPRO
8.0★ · 10/15/25
A classic without a shadow of a doubt.
A classic without a shadow of a doubt.
Sarah
8.0★ · 08/12/25
Watched for the Anti-Criterion Challenge 2025:letterboxd.com/that1oboist/list/the-anti-criterion-challenge-2025/
26/52: Another film from the same director in a different style or genre- Billy Wilder
Watched for the Anti-Criterion Challenge 2025:letterboxd.com/that1oboist/list/the-anti-criterion-challenge-2025/
26/52: Another film from the same director in a different style or genre- Billy Wilder
