The Password Is Courage (1962)

Directed by Andrew L. Stone. Starring Dirk Bogarde, Alfred Lynch, Maria Perschy, Nigel Stock, Reginald Beckwith, Richard Marner, Lewis Fiander, Richard Carpenter, Bernard Archer, Ed Devereaux.

Cheeky P.O.W. story based on the real-life exploits of the ironically-named British Sergeant-Major Charles Coward (Bogarde), who proves to be a thorn in the sides of his captors as he humiliates and sabotages them at every turn. Dirk Bogarde is ideal in the lead role, although I can’t help but question how many sacrifices were made in the translation of Coward’s memoir to the big screen—too many come-and-go supporting characters are ill-defined stereotypes, and some incidents are awfully hard to swallow as presented, even though there may very well be truth behind them. Director Andrew L. Stone struggles at times to keep the episodic story humming along (it feels almost as long as the significantly more entertaining and vividly-produced American wartime entertainment, The Great Escape), but the slower and more muddled patches don’t last long enough for interest to drift off entirely. Stone also scripted and produced.

59/100