Phonearl Good start, but then it gets ruined

Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Bea Swanson This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

VicTheDaddy This really is a different kind of war film,and probably one of the best for family viewing,as a kid i watched this film every time it was on TV its memorable because it is so different.It is also one of the first films that was made that got us to support elephants against the unnecessary tusk trade as the terrible slaughter was at its height.In reality Ollie Reed was a bit frightened of the elephant as it wasn't a particularly friendly one he didn't like turning his back on her,i take it he was sober?Another good point about this film is that it doesn't portray the Germans as one dimensional characters,you have a mixture of good and bad, British films have always tried to do this its a shame that a lot of modern film makers from other parts of the world cant follow this example they should set out to entertain not offend.People shouldn't get off on seeing other races ridiculed,this shouldn't happen in modern cinema The Patriot is one example,and there's a lot more like that.Back to the film ,theres a lot to like about it, its entertaining well acted and has an exciting climax and eventually a happy ending.This was Ollies most likable role its a shame he didn't play more parts like this rather than the hardened villain types.But i think after this film his drinking got heavier,which ruined his looks his weight ballooned,and eventually his acting career went fastly down hill,he showed so much promise in the early part of his career.This is a good film to see him in his hey day when he was at the height of his popularity,wasted talent?Also Micheal J Pollard is really funny in this film.

Scotthannaford1 Michael J. Pollard does, to an extent, spoil every scene he is in.I think that the main problem that Oliver Reed is one of the finest actors of the past thirty years - all brooding menace and power bubbling under the surface. Considering his role as Bill Sykes (the ultimate depiction of a vicious character), he is quite believable here.However Pollard hams up his role and plays it like a smacked up hippy. I can't imagine that the French Resistance fighters would have followed him for an instance, and I am sorry to say he is badly miscast here.The film is also, to an extent, a little derivative, with some pretty shoddy direction. It does have some superb cinematography which helps balance this out, but to be honest its a film to watch on December 27th when you have had your fill of Christmas cheer and just fancy something light.

tone-12 .... "And they all lived happily after..." claims the closing caption. Apart from the eighty seven people who were shot, blown up, fell from great heights or were crushed by falling logs, of course.This World War II POW and elephant escape adventure is a bit on the ridiculous side, although it is beautifully filmed, with some great shots of the Bavarian countryside.For me, the light hearted, sentimental story of the elephant's escape doesn't quite jell with the violence and mayhem dealt out to a large number of Germans; but that's the way they seemed to like their war movies in the sixties.Oliver Reed is OK as the hero. As for Michael J. Pollard- seeing him in this movie you can understand why his film career never really took off after his popular success in "Bonnie and Clyde". What were originally novel and engaging mannerisms rapidly became tedious and irritating as he repeated them in a variety of roles over the following years.A pity the main female human character got shot- it was only half a dozen guys and an elephant who got to live happily ever after!

teelbee You've already read the plot, where an English POW risks his life to conduct a bombed-out zoo elephant, Lisa, from Germany to a safe haven in Switzerland during World War II. Despite the doubts that plot line might suggest, this is a great movie that held my attention the whole way through. An excellent cast gives life to a wide range of characters; and you really do come to understand their actions and care about them.Oliver Reed, as "Hannibal" Brooks, brings a light touch and a wry sense of humor to this role that blends both comedy and drama. It pays to listen closely to the by-play between Brooks and his fellow POWs and the zoo staff, and German soldiers he encounters - there's some really funny stuff here. However, as a war film, it's not all comedy - there are fighting sequences and the film includes some spectacular explosions and pyrotechnics.One thing I liked about the movie is that it portrays the decency of common people; the ordinary people they met along the way who took time to be caring and kind -- in contrast to the horrors of war all around them. Michael J. Pollard, as Packy, an American POW who has ambitions of military glory, is kind of strange. But, then Michael J. Pollard is always strange, so I guess that's what they wanted for his role. I would have preferred to see it played "straight", but I think the strangeness works in this movie anyway.This is a very enjoyable movie - I hope it gets wider distribution on video/DVD so that more people can enjoy it.