mmyy This is a movie based on a play by Franz Werfel who had the "priviledge" of being the writer whose books Hitler vowed to burn first. Luckily, he was able to escape Europe and come to America. As a side note--he was married to Alma Mahler Werfel--Mahler's widow who managed to marry or live with many of the greatest artists of the 20th century. But Werfel had quite a time trying to escape Hitler and his play was about this story. When the play came to Broadway it was softened and a lot of humor was added. The movie is more true to the Broadway play. And it is a WONDERFUL movie. Full of suspense, humor, innocence and evil. All the acting is wonderful. Danny Kaye does a wonderful job in the lead. It is not like any of his other movies. Black and white and beautiful. Worth whatever trouble you have in finding it.

lilyevans-64502 We all know he's a knockout comedian, but this movie really comes to prove how versatile Danny Kaye is. At first I was doubting whether it would be amusing because I was not laughing, but then his performance left me teary eyed. Just one thing-it would have been much better to see his gorgeous orange hair in color. But no complaints! This is a wonderful movie that should be better known!

lfowden84 Caught this gem on late night TV a few years ago.Even though the story is set during World War II and Danny Kaye's character is trying to escape to safety, it has so many poignantly funny moments that one remembers and has a chuckle about it. My favourite: "in the cathedral of my heart a candle will be lit".This is by the Colonel to one of his many paramours. Eventually Danny Kaye cannot help himself and wonders how big is the Colonel's heart to accommodate all this candles? Next is the oft repeated line : "less and less I like this Jacoboski".Last but not least is the third character in the story, the faithful sergeant played by Akim Tamiroff. This film has drama,pathos,laughs and tears all within a story of escape,pride and sadly war.Highly sought after if released on DVD. Millie

Larry R. Coffman This film was a wonderful vehicle for the talents of Danny Kaye who played a serious, dramatic role instead of the typical zany comedic parts he usually performed. Franz Werfel,a Jew who had to flee Nazi Germany, wrote the drama on which this film is based and used much humor(especially in the relationship between Jakobowsky and the Colonel) to take on a serious subject: anti-semitism in Europe during World War II.In order to do this, he had to create stereotypes, which is common in comedy. A similar stereotyping is done in Mussorgsky's piano suite "Pictures at an Exhibition" in the part called "Samuel Goldenberg and Schmyl." However, instead of satirizing two Jews, Werfel was making fun of the differences between an anti-semitic Polish aristocrat and a bourgeois Jewish Pole who has the gift of being a survivor. Perhaps, because of this, the reception of the film has been cool. It has never been released on laser disc or DVD in the U.S. and is seldom seen on television. However, it is available in Germany on DVD in anamorphic 16x9 format, PAL Region 2 encoding.