The Birdmen
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| The Birdmen | |
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| Directed by | Philip Leacock |
| Produced by | Harve Bennett Harry Tatelman ....(uncredited) |
| Written by | David Kidd |
| Starring | Doug McClure Rene Auberjonois Richard Basehart Chuck Connors |
| Music by | David Rose |
| Cinematography | Jack A. Marta |
| Editing by | Robert F. Shugrue Gene Palmer (uncredited) |
| Distributed by | American Broadcasting Company (ABC) MCA/Universal Pictures |
| Release date(s) | September 18, 1971 (USA) |
| Running time | 74 min |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
The Birdmen (U.K. title Escape of the Birdmen) was a made for TV action/adventure movie filmed in 1971. The film was based on P.R. Reid's book Escape from Colditz, which chronicled an actual POW escape attempt during World War II.
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[edit] Tag Line
"They used to boast there were only two ways to escape from Hitler's Beckstadt prison... to die...or to sprout wings."
[edit] Plot summary
During World War II, American soldier Harry Cook is sent to Norway to aid in the defection of a scientist working on the atomic bomb for the Germans. Before they can escape Europe, they are captured and sent to a POW prison camp in a high alpine castle on the German-Swiss border. Cook must find a way to escape with the scientist before the Gestapo discover the Norwegian's true identity. Cook convinces the other prisoners to build a two person glider that can fly to Switzerland. The race is on to complete the glider before the German guards discover the plane, and the Gestapo catch up with Cook and the scientist.
[edit] Trivia
The film was shot on location at the actual Colditz Castle. The castle was the German version of a Supermax -- a repository for Allied "Escape Experts". Every prisoner in residence had at least one close-to-successful escape attempt from another facility under his belt.
[edit] Memorable quotes
Schiller: "Major, I'm afraid we are both in a great deal of trouble."
Cook: "Why don't you break out the scotch first? My leg is killing me!"
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