Le prisonnier fantôme

It's another P. O. W./escape film, with the usual cohort of Germans: the bumbling sergeant, the professional soldier in charge, and, of course the nazty Nazi type who winds up in charge. This time it's a Naval P. O. W. Camp, hence the original name. "Albert" is a dummy made up to let a prisoner escape occasionally from the wash house, which is outside the grounds. Eight POWs march up to the facilities, with the pieces secreted among them. One of them, chosen by lot, hides while the dummy is assembled, and then after eight prisoners seem to have marched back, takes off. The Germans notice the short count only the next morning.

It's the reactions to Albert among the bunkhouse with Jack Warner in charge that make up the interesting bits to this movie. Some are explained. Others, aren't. Why does the fellow who came up with the idea seem uninterested in escaping? I still haven't figured that out. With Anthony Steel, Robert Beatty, and William Sylvester as "Texas".