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  Average Rating for The One That Got Away - 4 out of 5

  
  (based on 1 user reviews)
• The One That Got Away

  Roy Nancarrow 20 February 2009

  

  Review
  Based on the book of the same name by Kendal Burt & James Leasor, this classic British motion picture remains true to the original story. This was one of the many excellent motion pictures - about World War 2 - made by British motion picture studios, during the 1950's era. A quality production, based on a true story. I remember seeing this motion picture in the 'Astoria' Cinema, West End Terrace/Bishop's Place, Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire, South Wales, when I was 14 years of age. This brought back memories of the conflict of World War 2 to my father.
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  The acting, by all the cast is real 'top notch'. Commencing its narrative, after Oberleutnant Franz von Werra's, is shot down - during the Battle Of Britain. He captured and sent to a Prisoner Of War Camp. Through guts and determination he manages to escape his captors twice but is recaptured. Transported to Canada he then makes this third, and at last successful escape - into the then neutral United States of America who did not actively enter the conflict of World War 11. Until after the tragic events at Pearl Harbour. Franz von Werra was the only German Prisoner Of War to successfully escape from Allied captivity during World War 11. And return to his homeland - Germany.
  
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  Some Interesting Facts.
  
  Wednesday 28th August 1940, my father Idris Gordon Nancarrow, a national serviceman 'called up' to serve in the R.A.F. during World War 11. celebrated his 20th birthday. On that day that Franz von Werra gained some notoriety when he returned, to Germany, from a mission over England and claimed he had shot down 9. R.A.F. Hurricane fighters over 'the garden of England' - Kent. Despite the fact there were no witnesses to his claim his success was officially recognised and the German propaganda machine made of his claimed feat. Later it appeared that 4 victories were confirmed and attributed to Franz von Werra's and thw 5th to the 9th credited as ground victories.
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  Thursday 5th September 1940, Franz von Werra was part of a German bomber escort mission to and area somewhere south of London, United Kingdom. The formation encountered R.A.F. Spitfire fighters. In the subsequent aerial combat, von Werra's Bf 109 E-4 (W.Nr. 1480) received hits from 'friendly fire'. He attempted to fly home alone but was pursued by a Spitfire and forced down near Marden. Von Werra was captured and imprisoned in England, United Kingdom.
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  He twice attempted to escape. First was on Monday 7th October 1940. His second attempt was on Friday 20th December 1940. He was recaptured both times. After his 2nd failed escape attempt Franz von Werra was sent to a prison camp in Canada. He managed to escape on Tuesday 21st January 1941. He made his way through the United States Of America, Mexico, South America then Spain and finally reached Germany Friday 18th April 1941. Just over 6 months later Franz Von Werra took off in Bf 109 F-4 on a practice flight, Saturday 25th October 1941. The areoplane suffered engine failure, crashed into the sea - north of Vlissingen - and was killed.
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British war drama based on the true story of Lt. Franz von Werra (Hardy Krüger), the only German prisoner-of-war interred in Britain to successfully escape and return to Germany. After being shot down in his plane over Britain, Lt. von Werra is kept captive in the North of England and sets his sights on a cunning plan to escape the clutches of the British and make it back to his homeland. With the story of his escape reaching the news and the authorities beginning to close in on him, von Werra must act fast if he is to survive the shoot-to-kill order with his name on it and reach the sanctity and familiarity of Germany.