Directed: Lewis Milestone

Year: 1927

Nominated: Best Director – Lewis Milestone

Won: Best Director – Lewis Milestone

Plot in 25 Words: The original odd couple break out of a German POW camp and go from one disaster to another ending with a stolen love in Arabia.

In My Opinion: I really enjoyed this film. I started off a bit sceptical but after about 15 minutes the plot really took off and I was hooked. A very simple premise but it was done very well. Two enemies must join forces to escape a prisoner of war camp. Cue the various disasters and general cock-ups.

My favourite part of their adventure was their initial escape. In true Great Escape style, they tunnel out under the floorboards, eventually putting on white cloaks to hide them in the snow. They are also apparently magic cloaks as they prevent tracker dogs from smelling or seeing them!

They reach a fence and discuss whether or not it could be electrified, a dilemma that is resolved when a fellow prisoner, also escaping (busy night for the escape committee) runs right at the fence. Well I laughed til I had tears in my eyes. The unnamed prisoner runs to the fence and clings on for dear life, before shaking his body around violently and flinging himself to the ground. A couple of firecrackers go off on the ground but that was it. As much as I laughed I was impressed at the effort put in.

Things go from bad to worse for our intrepid duo. They accidentally join a route march back to the camp, fall out of a moving train and nearly drown trying to save an exotic beauty.

After a few rounds of practical jokes, a couple of near-death incidents and a fake duel, the two are on their way home, one with a new love in tow, the other with a shiny new horse and carriage. Hopefully a happy ending for the two highly entertaining chaps!

Star Performer: Louis Wolheim as Sgt. Peter O’Gaffney. He was the comic talent. Brilliant facial expressions including a fantastic put-upon look.

Overall: Yep, a good one. Some of the comedy came very near to slapstick but it works. The odd couple relationship between the two was the cause for much of the laughs. Great fun.