"Stalag 17" Identities Trivia Quiz

Answer: Betty Grable photo

Sgt Stanislaus "Animal" Kuzawa (Robert Strauss), like many American servicemen during WWII, spends much of his time mooning over his photograph of actress and pin up girl Grable. His other schemes, along with his friend Harry Shapiro, include attempting to enter the Russian women's compound at shower time, which they almost manage.

Answer: Water tower

Lt James Dunbar (Don Taylor) has been dumped temporarily in the sergeants' compound due to a railroad blockage, which he has caused. The Germans, who have a spy in the barracks, discover that Dunbar has used a simple matchbook and cigarette "time bomb" to cause an explosion and derail a train. Before they can turn him over to the Gestapo, the prisoners cause a diversion and rescue him.

He hides in the camp's water tower until arrangements for his escape can be made.

Answer: Wig

Sgt Harry Shapiro (Harvey Lembeck) dons a blonde wig during a barracks party (it's Christmas-time) when several of the sergeants are dancing with one another. Animal spots Harry in a Grable-like pose and in a booze-induced fog asks 'her' to dance, convinced that Betty Grable has arrived in the camp. After bursting his friend's bubble, Harry tosses the wig aside in disgust.

Answer: Leader

Sgt "Hoffy" Hoffman (Richard Erdman) is the elected barracks leader and spokesman, who deals with the Germans, as well as being the authority who approves any escape schemes and other enterprises. One of his biggest worries is trying to determine if there is a spy in their midst, and if so, who it is. Most of the sergeants, especially Duke (Neville Brand), are convinced that wheeler dealer Sefton is the culprit, trading with the Germans for favours and better treatment.

Answer: Ocarina

Joey (Robinson Stone) suffers from what nowadays would be diagnosed as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, having seen his nine crew mates "splattered" over the inside of their downed airplane. He only expresses himself by playing his ocarina, sometimes at inopportune moments. We learn from a letter that Joey's folks hope he will continue his law studies after the war.

Answer: Mail

Marko (William Pierson) delivers mail to the barracks, usually prefacing distribution with cries of "At ease! At ease!" He is usually accompanied by one-legged Steve, who uses his empty pant leg to hide various items - a radio, a small Christmas tree, other contraband. Marko doesn't put up with any guff from guys like Animal, who keeps asking if there's a letter for him, but quickly pockets a letter for Manfredi, who has been killed whilst attempting to escape.

Answer: Chess piece

Sgt Frank Price (Peter Graves) is in charge of security for the barracks, and is therefore deemed to be trustworthy. This is a big mistake, as he is in reality a German, who has lived in the States, planted to learn whatever he can about escape attempts, illegal radios and how Dunbar managed to sabotage that train.

He communicates with the guards by placing notes in a hollowed out chess piece, from the board that is always set up on the barracks table.

Answer: Chess piece

Feldwebel (Sgt) Johann Sebastian Schulz (Sig Ruman) is Price's contact, and also has a hollowed out chess piece that can be exchanged with the one holding a note. He is not above joking with some of the prisoners (especially Animal and Harry), but is alert for the signal that a message is awaiting him: a loop in the light bulb's wire.

Answer: Footlocker

Sgt J.J. Sefton (William Holden, in his Oscar-winning role) is a scrounger and wheeler dealer, who has a footlocker full of goodies, like stockings, bottles of wine and the cigarette ration of almost everybody who has ever made a bet on one of his schemes.

He is suspected of being the one who gave away Manfredi and Johnson's escape attempt, and other things that should have remained secret. Even Cookie (Sgt Clarence Cook, played by Gil Stratton) who has been his sidekick and gofer, begins to believe this about Sefton.

In the end Sefton is able to expose Price, and offers to be the one to assist Dunbar in his escape.

Answer: Smudge pot

Steve (A. Gerald Singer) has lost a leg, and gets around using a crutch. As noted earlier, his empty pants leg provides a good hiding spot, and is used to conceal a smudge pot that is used to create a smokescreen to facilitate Dunbar's disappearing into the water tower.

The smudge pot has been made by some of the prisoners, including Sgt "Blondie" Peterson (Robert Shawley) using ground up ping pong balls, a large supply of which has been inexplicably provided by the Red Cross.