Stalag Luft is a 1993 situation comedy drama film, made for television, which went straight into the wastebin of obscurity. Today I found it on Youtube and gave it a watch, and to be honest it really didn't deserve its immediate debunking and neglecting, it does have many redeeming qualities, but it will never be thought of as a good film, and I doubt ever seeing it on any TV channel playlist, ever.
Stalag Luft is possibly not the most inspiring or even attention-grabbing of titles either... perhaps one reason people stayed away from this film. A 'Stalag' was the name given by the Germans to their POW camps, and is actually a contraction of their much longer (and much more German) word, "Kriegsgefangenenmannschaftsstammlager" [literally "war-prisoners-groups-main camp"], and as such does little to imbue the film with the feeling that this is actually a comedy! The Luft part of the title is 'Air{force}'... prisoners of war from the British and allied Airforces were put in Luft prisons, where generally both Officers and NCOs were billeted together. OK, enough of the history lesson!
The film is written by David Nobbs, best known as the creator behind 'The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin', and does feel very much like a TV sit-com that has overstayed its welcome. The writing is not really funny enough to be laugh-out-loudable (as say a comparable sitcom such as 'Allo 'Allo or Dads' Army), nor is it dramatic enough to be played straight since the plot is utterly ludicrous to say the least.
In brief, this particular Stalag Luft Anlage, is manned by old and somewhat lax German guards, and so the prisoners are able to not only plan an escape but build five large tunnels right under the Germans' noses. However the camp Kommandant finds out, eventually, about the intended 'break-out' and in all earnest, asks if the Germans can come too. They have had enough of the war, they want out, and if, as he so rightly states, the SS were to find the prisoners gone, the Germans would probably be shot. And so the whole of the camp are to escape. The Germans leave through the tunnel first, and then the allies come upon the idea that perhaps they should leave the Germans on the outside and they stay in the camp themselves and pass the rest of the war (which is coming to an end so they say) in peace. The only problem is that they have to pretend to be continuing the daily running of the camp as normal as there are frequent inspections of the camp etc. Half of the prisoners therefore don German uniforms and start to learn German, whilst the other half are still prisoners. There is certainly much humour to be gained from such a premise, but the humour either falls short or flat by today's standard. The writing is also extremely episodic. It is sitcom writing.. every 20 minutes or so, a new and incredible twist in the plot is given and of course this would be the place for adverts and the writing..."to be continued...". However, this is a film and so the plot changes seem heavy-handed and very obvious.
The principal saving grace of this film is in the acting. Stephen Fry (slightly reprising his Blackadder role, but in a differnt form) plays Wing Commander James "Big F" Forrester with ease. Fry is an eminently watchable actor, and has a great command and understanding of how acting for camera works. Playing his sidekick-cum-nemesis in the camp is 'Chump' Cosgrove, played delightfully by Nicholas Lyndhurst. Such a natural talent. Geoffrey Palmer (still with us at the grand old age of 92!) plays the German Kommandant with aplomb. An utterly convincing, balanced and nuanced portrayal of an aging officer who is weary and wants to live the rest of his days in peace and quiet, but also showing a deal of empathy and sympathy with those he is forced to keep imprisoned. Palmer, best known as a comedy actor gives a very touching and very uncomedic performance throughout. Sam Kelly gives a star turn cameo as Adolf Hitler.
The film would have worked much better as a short serial, much in the way sit-coms are formatted and presented, except not a different story each week as most sitcoms offer (series), but a continuation of the same storyline (serial). For a full length feature film the storyline was too thin and drawn-out. There are some priceless moments in the film, but sadly far too few. I do recommend you persevere though, there is some truly lovely acting, and a few surprises along the way too, and it is worth it for these moments!
Reviewer - Chris Benchley
on - 9/3/20
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