Rent The Wooden Horse (1950)

Great Escape. - The Wooden Horse review by Steve

Landmark prisoner of war film from a novel by Eric Williams, based on his real life escape from Stalag Luft III in Germany in 1943. It splits into two equal parts: the breakout from the camp, by audaciously digging a tunnel under the cover of a vaulting horse; and the journey by land and sea to neutral Sweden.

This is where the WWII escape film began, and much of it would be imitated over the years. But a couple of incidents remain personal to this story: the ingenious plan which involved laboriously carrying out the gymnastic apparatus each day and afterwards disposing of the soil; and a poignant episode in Denmark when a frightened local girl gives them shelter.

This scene conveys a powerful tremor of authenticity. And establishes how much these plans relied on the bravery and kindness of strangers. And some good luck. As usual Jack Lee directs with a documentary style detachment, but there are a few odd impressionistic moments too. The performances are all understated, in the  British tradition.

Leo Genn and Anthony Steel play the phlegmatic escapees, and they are so natural in the roles they hardly seem to be acting. The script sometimes reflects on the experience of being a prisoner, or a fugitive, but is not philosophical; this is a realistic plot driven action film, invigorated with many moments of suspense.