I was never a fan of Frank Sinatra. While I had always like him as a singer, I never thought he would make a good star, especially competing with other tough guys like Steve Mc Queen, and later, Eastwood and Connery. Well, I was not wrong in that aspect, but I learned to like him. He got a presence of his own. Something I realised after seeing this movie.

The second hour of this movie was fast. Really fast, and suspenseful. Honestly, I didn't expect this from a movie of that time, when actually I was all prepared for the slower pace. You will find yourself with living the characters as they escape from the Germans in World War Two. Oh yes, that's what the plot is all about.

While the first hour is equally good, there might be a bit of drabness. A I've-seen-it-all stuff, especially when it concerns the World War 11 prison life. We have seen it in Wilder's Stalag 17, Sturges' The Great Escape and many others. But during this moment, thing never lets up as far as interesting characters and dialogues are concerned. I loved this line:

American prisoners (When Frank, an air-Corp colonel, couldn't do much to help them): I should have known. He's just a bird colonel.

Sinatra: Well, a bird colonel outranks birdbrain. Clear!

It goes on for a while, all that prison scenes. But when Sinatra and the gang are out, boy you are in for a great thrill ride.

I will not spoil you with the details of the escape. But the ending...I mean...It should have...but it was good. Just that...oh, hell, check it out yourself. It is a brilliant piece of filmmaking. Kudos to the director, but I do wonder what happened to Mark Robson. Is he related to Bobby and Bryan, by the way? Lets check IMDB.

Note: The cast is interesting. There's Trevor Howard, who is in his Captain Bligh mode (He did the Brando version of Mutiny of the Bounty remember). There was Adolfo Celi, who, in the year before, appeared as Bond Baddie, Emilio Largo. We get to hear his real voice in this one, and goddamit! It sounds the same as his dubbed voice. Also, watch out for a young Edward Mulhare, who would, in the eighties, appear as Devon in The Knight Rider. As if you care! Hey, I do okay. It was a damn nice car.