The Birdmen
| The Birdmen | |
|---|---|
| Screenplay by | David Kidd |
| Directed by | Philip Leacock |
| Starring | Doug McClure |
| Narrated by | Charles Aidman |
| Music by | David Rose |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) |
Harve Bennett Harry Tatelman |
| Cinematography | Jack A. Marta |
| Editor(s) |
Robert F. Shugrue Gene Palmer |
| Running time | 74 min. |
| Production company(s) | Universal Pictures |
| Distributor | ABC |
| Release | |
| Original release | September 18, 1971 |
The Birdmen also known as Escape of the Birdmen and Colditz: Escape of the Birdmen is a 1971 television film directed by Philip Leacock and starring Doug McClure and Rene Auberjonois. It was a fictionalised account based on a proposed scheme for prisoners of war to escape from Colditz Castle by a clandestinely constructed glider christened the Colditz Cock. The movie appeared on the ABC Movie of the Week on September 18, 1971.[1] The film was shot at Universal Studios Hollywood and released theatrically in several countries.
Plot
O.S.S. Agent Major Cook is sent to Occupied Europe to bring a Norwegian scientist working on the atomic bomb to the Allies. The pair are captured but as they are believed to be escaped Allied airmen prisoners of war, they are sent to the "escape proof" Beckstadt Castle for Prisoners of War. Cook plots escape attempts but also has to keep the atomic scientist's true identity from both the Germans and his fellow prisoners.
Cast
- Doug McClure ... Major Harry Cook
- Rene Auberjonois ... Halden Brevik / Olav Volda
- Richard Basehart ... Kommandant Schiller
- Max Baer Jr. ... Tanker
- Chuck Connors ... Colonel Morgan Crawford
- Don Knight ... Major Tovar
- Greg Mullavey ... Sparrow
- Paul Koslo ... Davies
- Barry Brown ... Donnelly
- Tom Skerritt ... Orville Fitzgerald
Soundtrack
Notes
- ↑ pp. 54 Karol, Michael The ABC Movie of the Week Companion: A Loving Tribute to the Classic Series iUniverse, 2008