Talk:Colditz (1972 TV series)

Ace in the Hole Synopsis
With apologies to whoeve has done such an excellent job with this page - I've added a synopsis for this episode. It's mainly from a recent memory of seeing the show - so please ammend at will.Daisyabigael 15:57, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

124.176.184.169 (talk) 05:07, 3 May 2009 (UTC) I think this should be classified still as a stub as it does not include any of the production information nor location information. Which studio at the BBC was it filmed in? Pebble Mill? Where were the exteriors shot, especially those of the castle itself? Any comments? 124.176.184.169 (talk) 05:07, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

Tweedledum Synopsis
I'm not sure saying that the episode 'leaves it open' that Marsh has been feigning all along and the British authorities are covering this up. It's very clearly implied that the strain of pretending to be schizophrenic for so many months - coupled with seeing the French prisoner Beausire escape so easily - have caused Marsh to become genuinely mentally ill. There's nothing in the script or the actors' performances in the final scene that even hints otherwise. I have tweaked the entry slightly to reflect this. 86.26.17.60 (talk) 10:35, 9 November 2010 (UTC)


 * This is only from memory of seeing the episode when it was originally aired back in 1973 or so, but IIRC, you are correct, the strain of feigning mental illness causes Marsh to develop mental problems himself. The funny thing is, that it's one of the few episode plots that I can remember. I was only around 11 at the time, so it made an impression on me.


 * BTW, another series from around then that might interest you was Pathfinders. Another might be A Family at War, or even Danger UXB, which was a bit later-on in the 70s. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.4.57.101 (talk) 20:13, 25 December 2011 (UTC)
 * Having just watched the episode today, I would agree that the storyline does not leave it open as to whether or not Marsh went insane: he does. However, the reality of the situation would have dictated that the letter from Marsh's wife would have to say that he was committed to an asylum in order not to jeopardize the possible repatriation of future POWs who were genuinely insane (a point made by Col. Preston at the beginning of the escape plan). In that sense a real world scenario would have to have left the remaining prisoners unsure as to whether or not Marsh was feigning at the end - something that would have been obvious to the POWs in real, but was left out of the episode for dramatic effect.1812ahill (talk) 17:55, 22 February 2013 (UTC)

2005 series not a remake
Left this note in article history, but I thought I'd put it here, too, for clarity. Colditz (2005 film) is in no way associated with this series. End credits of 2005 production do not mention this series whatsoever as a basis. Instead they name a book and a different television series altogether. They are completely different things.  Czech Out  ☎ |  ✍  02:22, 12 November 2010 (UTC)

David Stirling !!!
Someones wrote that Flt. Lieutenant Page is based on Lt. Colonel David Stirling after what they seem to have confused the Special Air Service with the Special Operations Executive. These were two very different units, whilst the SAS were an army unit the SOE was an intelligence unit. The SAS was designed to operate in small groups behind the lines independent of native forces, the SOE was to coordinate native resistance forces.

David Stirling was never a member of the SOE, he was never flown into occupied France and never operated as secret agent/spy. --The Mercenary 73 (talk) 18:02, 15 March 2013 (UTC)

Douglas Bader - undue prominence/trivia issue?
In the historical accuracy section it says "Curiously, no actor was characterised to play, nor any mention was made of Squadron Leader/Group Captain Douglas Bader. He was the RAF pilot who lost both legs in a plane crash before the war and ended up in Colditz after various escape attempts from other camps. He remained imprisoned until the liberation." However I think this is tending towards trivia and has undue prominence. Several other famous Colditz inmates do not appear or have obvious analogues in the series. Airey Neave is an obvious example and Anthony Luteyn and other Dutch prisoners are not represented at all. Also there is no citation to say other critics have commented on the absence of a Bader character from the series. If there was such a reference then I think the point would have more weight and more clearly belong in the article. Dunarc (talk) 19:50, 11 June 2020 (UTC)


 * I tend to agree, If the matter is not supported by a secondary critical source then it smacks of original research and should be removed. Poltair (talk) 07:26, 12 June 2020 (UTC)

Running time
It says "Running time 1 Hour", but this would seem to be the case when show with adverts. As it was originally broadcast on BBC 1 there would be no commercial breaks and so the running time would be shorter than this, possibly 50 minutes? Dunarc (talk) 22:48, 11 June 2020 (UTC)


 * Looking at the Radio Times editions from 19th October 1972 when the series started, certainly the first few episodes were scheduled for 50 mins. However, there is some uncertainty as those episodes that remain on YouTube seem to range between 50 and 55 minutes. Poltair (talk) 07:26, 12 June 2020 (UTC)


 * Thanks Poltair. I seem to remember some of the repeats that were on one of the UKTV channels c 2010 ran slightly over the hour mark with adds. I did wonder if the speeds had been altered on some of the Youtube videos though? Whatever the case I do not think any ever lasted a full hour. Dunarc (talk) 20:25, 12 June 2020 (UTC)