World War II provided the material for an industrial number of films set during the period, from the small story to the grand. A product where the best meets the worst. There are even sub-genres, such as underwater movies, or, in the case we’re interested in here, escape movies.
In this nursery, of course, there are the classics: Stalag 17, The Rebels of Colditz, Colonel Von Ryan’s Express, The Bridge on the River Kwai, or the classic of genre classics, The Great Escape by John Sturgess.
Unjustly forgotten and/or very little known, The Escape of Captain Schlueter, released in 1970, deserves at least some serious discovery. The good news is that it’s available on Prime Video, but you’ll have to hurry because it’ll be leaving the platform’s catalog very soon!
story? Tough, drunk and loud Irish Captain Jack Connor is in charge of investigating the threats of an escape from a group of German prisoners led by the charismatic Captain Schluter. When the camp commander fails to contain the prisoners, Connor’s unconventional methods solve the problem. At least momentarily…
“It’s not going to be another war movie. It’s not going to glamorize war as a game.” These were the words of director Lamont Johnson while filming this movie. In the vast majority of films of this genre, escape films feature the Allies in prison camps – Stalag or Oflag, camps for officers. In Captain Schlueter’s escape, German officers from the Luftwaffe or Kriegsmarine are captured by the Allies in a camp in Scotland.
The film relies heavily on the enormous psychological face-off between the charismatic and impeccable Brian Keith, who plays the Irish captain with unorthodox methods, opposite Captain Schlueter, played by the no less excellent Helmut Grimm, who we saw in Luchino Visconti’s “Cursed” and who we will find again two years later in “Multibar”. Also Ludwig or Twilight of the Gods.
Intense and poignant, the film offers a very original approach to the genre; Not forgetting the excellent cinematography of Michael Reed, the renowned cinematographer with several Hammer films including Dracula, Prince of Darkness. And a soundtrack composed by Riz Ortolan, who a few years later signed the very famous soundtrack… Cannibal Holocaust.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
