The One That Got Away

1957 1h 51m EN

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 59

WarDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Based on the true story of Oberleutnant Franz von Werra, the only German prisoner of war captured in Britain to escape back to Germany during the Second World War.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Hardy Krüger
Franz von Werra
Colin Gordon
Army Interrogator
Michael Goodliffe
R.A.F. Interrogator
Terence Alexander
R.A.F. Intelligence Officer
Jack Gwillim
Commandant, Grizedale
Andrew Faulds
Lieutenant, Grizedale
Julian Somers
Booking Clerk
Alec McCowen
Duty Officer, Hucknall

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Roy Ward Baker
Writers: Howard Clewes
Languages: English, German
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

69 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, German.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Roy Ward Baker, shot by Eric Cross. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Sidney Hayers shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Hardy Krüger and Colin Gordon and Michael Goodliffe carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0050803 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 59 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Roy Ward Baker directs. Eric Cross behind the camera. Sidney Hayers cuts. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English, German.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

169 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, German.
3Directed by Roy Ward Baker, shot by Eric Cross. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Editor Sidney Hayers shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Hardy Krüger and Colin Gordon and Michael Goodliffe carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0050803 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 59 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Eric Cross
Editing: Sidney Hayers
Costume design: Anthony Mendleson
Makeup / hair: George Claff
Runtime: 111 min · 1h 51m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
IMDB: The One That Got Away (1957)

Also by

Roy Ward Baker

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2022-04-04
★ 7/10
Hardy Kruger is really good in this wartime adventure film. His portrayal of the real life Franz von Werra, the only German PoW to escape internment from the UK during WWII gives us some idea of the sheer determination of a man who tried, repeatedly, to gain his freedom before embarking on a tour of just about every nation on Earth to get back to Germany. He starts by making his captors a promise that he will escape in six months, and they just put that down to his Nazi superiority complex. Soon, though, they realise he is a clever and ingenious fellow who lacks nothing by way of cunning - despite the difficulties he faces. It's maybe a little bit long, but for the most part Kruger holds it together really effectively. Despite not being on our side, so to speak, as the film gathers momentum it is difficult not to respect the man and his achievements, particularly as it is not just his enemies that are after him, but the weather and terrain are also conspiring effectively against him too. The supporting cast - Michael Goodliffe and Colin Gordon especially - work well; the photography (Sweden not Canada) looks good; the dialogue is frequently quite pithy and by the end, well I rather liked the fellow!

Production companies