It is quite amazing how one forgets the contents of a film that hasn?t been seen for a while ? the plot and structure of this movie is quite different to what I remembered?

Based on an apparently true story (according to the film?s credits), ?The Wooden Horse? is a film that is surprisingly short on plot, but full on subtle action and mild ?adventure?. It tells the story of a British officer?s ingenious plan for a daring breakout from Stalag Luft III, a German prisoner-of-war camp for officers. John, the instigator of the plan (Anthony Steel); Peter, the organiser of the task (Leo Genn) and Phil, who is an able assistant in the getaway (David Tomlinson) are the three men who succeed in their quest to reach Sweden during the Second World War.

Their method of deception is the construction of a vaulting horse (I have no idea of the number of readers who will remember this mild ?instrument of torture?, that remains an unwelcome part of my childhood memories!) that is planted daily in the middle of the camp?s exercise yard over a number of weeks. A hidden digger or diggers within the frame of the horse would then excavate the escape tunnel literally under the noses of the camp guards in broad daylight ? a truly ingenious idea! The first 40 or so minutes of the film cover the planning and execution of the escape. The remaining 50-odd minutes follows two of the escapees? convoluted attempts to get to Sweden (a neutral nation, and safe haven) ? the third escapee preferring to ?go it alone?.

Typical of British films of the time; it lacks the ?hype?, heroism and bravura of Hollywood productions, yet has the ?feel?, suspense and drama of a true WWII experience. Part of the joy of this movie is the (unglorified) ingenuity of the whole scheme and the matter-of-fact way that the whole escape is carried out ? no unnecessarily rousing music and no bare-chested heroics.

It is not an edge-of-your-seat suspense thriller, nor a rollicking ?Boy?s Own? adventure; but it manages to satisfactorily convey men?s desperation (and duty?) by escaping their captors to return to the front line.

One of the beauties of films of this time ? particularly British and European ? is that the ?enemy? is not a demonic, heartless personality; they are living and breathing humans as we are. Not that the Germans are portrayed as angels ? it?s just that we (the ?winners?) are not perfectly angelic either ? much the same as every German was not an inhumane bastard.

Despite the plot following a rather predictable formula, it still manages to provide a few, welcome surprises (no secrets will be given away!). Typically, also, there is humour to be found throughout; though it is quite subtle.

The cast is more than adequate, and provides an even contribution to the film ? there are no standout performers, though Leo Genn is prominent in the principal role of Peter.

I have to say that the ending snuck up on me ? it ended so quickly and comfortably that I was quite shocked!

THE EXTRAS

None, unfortunately.

CONCLUSION

This movie may not go down in the history books as one of the greatest escape movies of all time; yet it is a highly satisfying and matter-of-fact drama that I found quite entertaining.

It is not a movie that is restricted to die-hard war movie fans.