The Secret War of Harry Frigg
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Jack Smight
Paul Newman
Sylva Koscina
Andrew Duggan
Tom Bosley
John Williams
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In World War II, five general officers--three American, one British, and one French--are captured in a Tunisian turkish bath by Italians and detained in a luxurious villa in Italy under the command of Colonel Ferrucci. Soon it becomes clear to the Allied powers that the five officers cannot agree on a plan for escaping from their comfortable prison; consequently, public relations head Homer Prentiss recruits Pvt. Harry Frigg, known for his consistent, grandiose escapes from Army guardhouses, to spring the generals. Promoted instantly to major general in order to facilitate his command of the other officers, Frigg is then parachuted into Italy. After his capture by the enemy and imprisonment in the villa, he immediately begins haranguing the five men about their inability to organize an escape plan; when Frigg meets Contessa Francesca di Montefiore, the neutral owner of the villa, however, he becomes less intent on escape and delays the generals with a series of training programs. The escape night finally arrives, but it is postponed as a favor to Ferrucci, who is to be made a general at midnight. German officers arrive and promptly at midnight announce that Italy has surrendered and all prisoners will be transported to a German prison camp. Away from the comforts of both villa and countess, Frigg reverts to his former self and swiftly engineers a successful escape; as a reward, he is recommended for a commission by the five generals and allowed to run an Army radio station located back at the villa.
Director
Jack Smight
Cast
Paul Newman
Sylva Koscina
Andrew Duggan
Tom Bosley
John Williams
Charles Gray
Vito Scotti
Jacques Roux
Werner Peters
James Gregory
Fabrizio Mioni
Johnny Haymer
Norman Fell
Buck Henry
Horst Ebersberg
Richard X. Slattery
George Ives
Crew
John Austin
Henry Bumstead
Leon Charles
Hal E. Chester
Larry Germain
Joseph Gershenson
Alexander Golitzen
D. R. O. Hatswell
Edith Head
John Mccarthy Jr.
Russell Metty
Terence Nelson
Arthur S. Newman Jr.
Ronald Pierce
William Russell
Carlo Rustichelli
Peter Stone
Peter Stone
Frank Tarloff
Frank Tarloff
Waldon O. Watson
Bud Westmore
J. Terry Williams
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Location scenes filmed in the Sierra Madre section of southern California. Working titles: The Best Kept Secret of the War; Harry Frigg; and Meanwhile, Far from the Front.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States February 1968
Released in United States Winter February 1968
c Technicolor
Techniscope
Released in United States February 1968
Released in United States Winter February 1968
