L'évasion du capitaine Schlütter

Interesting and unusual story of a pack of German POWs plotting to break out of a prison camp in the UK and the new commanding officer's own plots to deal with them.

The British Army commander played by Brian Keith is hard-drinking, clever, Irish, cynical, shrewd, complex and street wise. The German Navy commander is fanatical, ruthless, confident, arrogant, intelligent and shrewd. Both of them spend some time trying to pull one over on the other, and they both know each other knows that, so they spend a little time playing a cat and mouse game while trying to gain the upper hand. Keith's captain drinks a little whiskey and plots with resolute calm. The German sings a few Nazi songs and plots with resolute calm. Then they both put their schemes into action.

I like all the acting here and the wet , cloudy , but bright green Irish landscapes. This is a fascinating World War II story that takes place neither on the battlefield or some goofy nostalgic homefront, but still contains plenty of action and thrilling suspense. When you watch it, emulate Brian Keith and drink a glass of whiskey.

Held in a Scottish POW camp, a group of German soldiers plot an escape while the Scots bring in an unorthodox Irish officer to work out what the Germans are plotting in this unconventional World War II movie. This is an unusual movie on a number of fronts. First off, the Germans are given more screen time and juicier characters than the Allies. Secondly, the Germans actually converse in German (with subtitles) rather than awkwardly speaking English (more common in war movies back then). Thirdly, the film attempts to show both sides of the incident, taking on the perspectives of both the German and Allied soldiers. For all its daringness to be different though, the film is not necessarily a success. It is hard to become emotionally involved in the story and find someone to root for due to the decision to show both sides in near equal depth. Also, try as Brian Keith does to make his Irishman interesting, Helmet Griem outclasses him every step of the way as the charismatic German Kapitän, which in turns makes the Germans' side of the tale more fascinating to view. Whatever the case, the film is very ably directed by Lamont Johnson, who would later go on to direct the classy likes of 'A Gunfight' and 'The Groundstar Conspiracy' and a solid supporting cast helps. Still, it is sometimes hard not to see 'The McKenzie Break' as more of a curio than anything else.

Brian Keith is well-cast as an Irish-born Army Captain with the British forces during WWII who is penalized for some indiscretions and busted down to Intelligence Officer at a prisoner-of-war camp in Scotland; the German inmates there take their orders from a megalomaniac Nazi Kapitänleutnant, who is supervising the digging of a tunnel underneath the barracks to freedom. Although ultimately let down by the lax editing and the careful if plodding pace, this is a well-realized vision of wartime behind barbed wire. The picture runs too long and has some beleaguered plot-threads (such as the sacrificial homosexual), though the match of wits between adept, assured Keith and smug, shrewd Helmut Griem is riveting. The locations (via Ireland and Turkey) give the film a vivid and unique look, and screenwriter William Norton's dialogue is extraordinarily direct. The finale is somewhat dragged out (and far-fetched in the bargain), yet it provides for a satisfying, sardonic close. **1/2 from ****

An interesting war film that differs from others in a number of ways. Firstly,the plot concerns German prisoners of war held in a POW camp in Scotland planning an escape. While many films have featured Allied POWs, it's quite rare to find one that focuses on Germans held in captivity (Hardy Kruger as "The one that got away" is another example). Secondly, the Germans actually speak in German as opposed to some studio manufactured pidgin English. This adds a welcome note of authenticity so often missing from big name war movies made around the same time. The cut that I've seen on British TV was certainly subtitled. I note that another reviewer had the misfortune to watch a non-subtitled version - he has my sympathy! Another interesting point is that - in a subplot - the film has a gay German POW being persecuted and subsequently murdered by his own compatriots. Whether this actually happened and how much of the film is based on fact I'm not sure. However, the Nazi persecution of homosexuals is well-documented, but not often seen on the screen. It must have been a fairly bold move for a film made in 1970 to address this. There are some loopholes, but it remains well-acted and intriguing.

Whereas many supposedly modern films such as `Saving Private Ryan' play along a clear black - and - white scheme (us = good decent chaps, Germans inhuman war robots), `The McKenzie Break' goes down a different path; neither of the central characters is readily likeable or even understandable. Captain Jack Connor is an Irishman fighting on the side of the British Army, a maverick by his personality and origin and yet a representative of the status quo. His antagonist Kapitän Willi Schlüter is a fanatical Nazi, yet we unwillingly sympathize with him because, young and sharp - witted, he is a prisoner desperately trying to break free.

Because the film does not force a constructed morality on the viewer, it is truthful and keeps us in suspense; we are never able to predict the ending or even the next turn of events. `The McKenzie' break is truly a neglected gem, an honest, engaging and intelligent movie that stands out among its genre.