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Summary

Drama set in an Italian prisoner of war camp during World War 2, where a group of British soldiers find their plans for escape thwarted by a mysterious traitor in their midst.

Cast

Richard Todd

Lieutenant Colonel David Baird

Bernard Lee

Lieutenant Colonel Huxley

Michael Wilding

Major Charles Marquand

Peter Arne

Capitano Benucci

Richard Attenborough

Capt. 'Bunter' Phillips

Andrew Faulds

Lt. Comdr. 'Dopey' Gibbon, R.N.

Donald Houston

Capt. Roger Byfold

William Franklyn

Capt. Tony Long

Vincent Ball

Capt. Pat Foster

Peter Jones

Capt. Alfred Piker

Ronnie Stevens

Lt. Meynell, 'The Sewer Rat'

Terence Alexander

Lt. Gibbs

Steve Norbert

Lt. Pierre Dessin

Cyril Shaps

Lt. Cyriakos Coutoules

Eric Lander

Lt. Tim O'Brien

John Dearth

Lt. Robson

Robert Bruce

'Doc' Simmonds, R.A.M.C.

Harold Siddons

Capt. 'Tag' Burchnall

Ian Whittaker

2nd. Lt. Betts-Hanger

David Williams

Lt. Parsons

David Graham

Lt. Moxhay

Howard Williams

Lt. Bush

Dino Galvani

Commandante Arletti

John Adams

German Officer (uncredited)

Victor Baring

Lt Paoli (uncredited)

Paul Beradi

Hut Commander (uncredited)

Ernest Blyth

Hut Commander (uncredited)

Peter Brace

POW (uncredited)

Michael Caine

Prisoner with Pin-Up (uncredited)

John Corrie

POW (uncredited)

Dan Cressey

Italian Guard (uncredited)

Richard Duke

POW (uncredited)

Max Faulkner

POW in Hamlet (uncredited)

Otto Friese

POW (uncredited)

Robert Gregory

Hut Commander (uncredited)

Gerry Judge

POW (uncredited)

John Leyton

POW (uncredited)

Alf Mangan

Italian Guard (uncredited)

Jim McManus

POW (uncredited)

Pat Meehan

German Officer (uncredited)

Patrick Mynhardt

POW in Hamlet (uncredited)

Geremy Phillips

Italian Guard (uncredited)

Pat Ryan

POW (uncredited)

Harold Sanderson

POW (uncredited)

Guy Standeven

POW (uncredited)

Emile Stemmler

POW (uncredited)

Phillip Stewart

POW (uncredited)

Reg Thomason

POW (uncredited)

Hedger Wallace

POW in Hamlet (uncredited)

Ron Whitwell

POW (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Don Chaffey

Novel

Michael Gilbert

Screenplay

Bryan Forbes

Screenplay

Frank Harvey

Reviews

John Chard

March 12, 2014

Four Hundred men and a Duck!

Danger Within is directed by Don Chaffey and adapted to screenplay by Bryan Forbes and Frank Harvey from the novel “Death in Captivity” written by Michael Gilbert. It stars Richard Todd, Bernard Lee, Michael Wilding, Richard Attenborough and Dennis Price. Music is by Francis Chagrin and cinematography by Arthur Grant.

Northern Italy, 1943, a POW Camp. No matter how intricate the planning, how well executed, escape attempts are met by tragedy as the sadistic camp commander is waiting to not only foil the escape, but to also kill the escapees in cold blood. It can mean only one thing, there’s an informer in the camp.

Packed with British thespian talent giving good turns, Danger Within serves as both a POW escape drama and a war time mystery thriller. The mystery element is a little undone since the informer is revealed to us the audience at the midpoint, but from there on in the suspense is amped up by way of wondering if the rat will be found, and if the amazing grand escape planned at film’s end will succeed. With that, the second half of pic also serves as an escape procedural. Lots going on here, with plenty of slices of British humour into the bargain as well, while some of the dialogue is tough and the odd line is very much of its time; but in a good period setting way (for example; how wonderful to hear the word clot used as an insult again!). 8/10