The McKenzie Break

The McKenzie Break. 1970 United Artists.
Starring: Brian Keith, Helmut Griem, Ian Hendry, Jack Watson
Director: Lamont Johnson
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Why is only one prison camp in Scotland causing any problems during World War II? Captain Jack Connor (Keith), a hard drinking womanizer with six AWOL incidents, is sent to investigate the McKenzie prison camp, where the German prisoners, led by a submariner named Schlüter (Griem), have risen up against their captors, asserting their own authority in the facility. Major Perry (Hendry) is helpless until Connor's arrival.

Connor figures out that the Germans are only acting out as a cover for an escape plot, using a tunnel, and he learns a little information from a prisoner called Neuchl who was ordered attacked and beaten by Schlüter during a riot. Despite Connor's orders to keep Neuchl separated from the other injured soldiers, he is strangled, although he does tell Connor that '28 German submariners' plan to escape. Meanwhile, two Germans have disguised themselves as British soldiers, and are on their way to a nearby town to meet a contact.

The day after Neuchl's death, Schlüter orders the escape to commence, and 28 prisoners escape after collapsing the barracks roof on some of their own mates as a distraction for the guards. Schlüter also kills the tunnel engineer with a wrench underground. Escaping in a red truck and with a motorcycle "escort", the escapees make their way to the coast, where a U-boat is due to pick them up. Unbeknownst to Schlüter and his allies, Connor is well aware of the plan, and after General Kerr arrives, the search for the fugitives can begin.

Not great, but not that bad, either. This one might require more than one viewing for me to really appreciate it.