Livestonth
I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible
PiraBit
if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.
Robert Joyner
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
Erica Derrick
By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
maidryn
I first saw this movie when I was 10 years old. For 36 years it's been my favorite. Whenever people say, "What's your favorite movie?" I reply, "Escape of the Birdmen" with Richard Basehart, Chuck Connors & RENE AUBERJONOIS. Nobody ever knows what I'm talking about, but I don't care. I will own it someday and I will never give Turner Classic Movies a moment of peace until they play it. It's THAT GOOD! I kid you not. I haven't seen it in 30 years but I will remain faithful. It's STILL that good. This movie is full of surprises so nobody should ever tell a spoiler. I always suspected it was based on a true story. There is so much real life in it. It's funny, historical, and suspenseful like you would not believe and there are some great twists at the end. you will love it. Great for any person, of any background, of any age. Love (the) Maid
theycallmemisterc
Reply to your comment of 28 June 2004 Author: Walter Collins (ondessonk71@yahoo.com) from Shreveport, LA USA on IMDb.com - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066833/#commentRe: The Birdmen (1971) (TV) – I saw the same movie. The same scene that you mentioned, the POW singing a German song, is the scene I remember the most. At the time I went to the library and was able to locate the song in a book about protest songs.Here's some information from the internet Die Gedanken sind Frei the German title translate to Our (My) Thoughts Are Free and here is a YouTube link, if your interested http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_6YQ-knKFw&mode=related&search= And finally here is an English translation of the German lyrics.Die Gedanken Sind Frei (Our Thoughts Are Free)Die Gedanken sind frei My thoughts freely flower, Die Gedanken sind frei My thoughts give me power. No scholar can map them, No hunter can trap them, No man can deny: Die Gedanken sind frei!I think as I please And this gives me pleasure, My conscience decrees, This right I must treasure; My thoughts will not cater To duke or dictator, No man can deny-- Die Gedanken sind frei!And if tyrants take me And throw me in prison My thoughts will burst free, Like blossoms in season. Foundations will crumble, The structure will tumble, And free men will cry: Die Gedanken sind frei!Neither trouble or pain Will ever touch me again. No good comes of fretting, My hope's in forgetting. Within myself still I can think as I will, But I laugh, do not cry: Die Gedanken sind frei!-- Traditional(Source for translation of song - http://www.cs.rice.edu/~ssiyer/minstrels/poems/1185.html )
shazza_woywoy
I think this movie is one of the best made for the period and about the war. The determination of the POW's to escape and the importance of one man to the world, and the US government is shown in the drama. The actors include Chuck Connors, and others fit like a glove into their roles.
BYellin
This movie's not bad for a TV movie, but it's interesting to note it's historical basis. Colditz Castle was 'Supermax'; the German repository for Allied 'Escape Experts'. Every prisoner in residence had at least one close-to-successful escape attempt from another facility under his belt.Colditz had the distinction of being the only German POW camp where the guards outnumbered the prisoners. Even so, successful escapes were made.The most daring plan involved the building of the glider in this movie.It was actually built, but never used. They were ready to go a month or two before the end of the war, but all prisoners were ordered through the intelligence network by London to sit tight because the Germans had begun shooting escapees. The Colditz gang decided to follow their orders and save the glider to be used in case the Germans starting murdering prisoners and a quick, sure way was needed to get someone 'over the wire' to alert the oncoming Allied forces.The camp was liberated without incident and the glider was shown around for a few weeks as a morale booster to repatriates of other camps. It was then boosted back up into the attic, but disappeared over the winter of 1945-46; probably destroyed by Russian officers billetted there and used as firewood against the unusually severe winter.
For more info read P.R. Reid's "ESCAPE FROM COLDITZ".
