A plot inspired by the famous Trojan Horse story created an ingenious plan to escape from captivity deep inside Germany. Phil Jarman reviews the classic war film, The Wooden Horse.
REAL TO REEL
GREAT BRITISH WAR FILMS
Released in 1950, The Wooden Horse set the standard for a genre of British war films which were to be warmly received by cinema and television audiences for decades. Director Jack Lee, whose film-making craft was developed during the Second World War as a creator of documentaries, read the original book written by Eric William recounting true events and he subsequently bought the film rights.
Williams was one of three prisoners of war incarcerated in the famous Stalag Luft III camp, situated 100 miles south east of Berlin, who along with Michael Codner and Oliver Philpott successfully escaped captivity and returned to Britain via Denmark and Sweden.
For the film, Williams, Codner and Philpot became RAF officers, Peter Howard, John Clinton and Philip Rowe. Central characters Howard and Codner were played by established actor Leo Genn and matinee heartthrob Anthony Steel respectively. The third escapee Rowe was played by experienced comedy actor David Tomlinson, who had already appeared in o…
