Stalag 17. [Paperback]

Donald Bevan and Edmund Trzcinski (Author), Donald Bevan (Author), Edmund Trzcinski (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 72 pages
• Publisher: Dramatists Play Service, Inc. (January 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0822210703
• ISBN-13: 978-0822210702
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,269,661 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stalag 17: Check out both the play and the film, August 8, 2002

By A Customer

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This review is from: Stalag 17. (Paperback)

This is the original script for the stage presentation of Stalag 17. I have seen the film countless times in whole or in part. I have never seen it on stage. I did read this script about 28 years ago, and now I have finished it again.

There are some major differences in the complexity and focus of the play and the film. Some of this is obviously logistics: A play, especially with one stage setting over three acts, cannot be as complex as a film.

As I read through the script, I of course visualized each character that was in the play. I could picture Robert Strauss and Stosh (The Animal) and Harvey Lembeck as Harry Shapiro. I had a little trouble relating the Bill Holden version of Sefton to what is in the stage play. In the play he comes out as not always cynical and able to dialogue with the other characters more.

The play is good as far as it goes, and we have to remember that it came before the film. I think the film is a definite improvement on the basic story. Edmund Trzcinski co-wrote the play based on his own experiences, and then played in the film later. This implied that he approved of the changes made to make this story work on the screen.

I rank the film as my number three favorite of all time, following The Godfather Trilogy and West Side Story. Casablanca comes in at number four. (All rankings subject to change)