Albert R.N. 1953

During the Second World War, in a German POW camp, inmates uncover an escape tunnel designed for naval officers. Led by Lt Geoffrey Ainsworth, the escape committee hatches a plan to fool the guards by using parts of a mannequin named Albert. Pieces are smuggled with prisoners headed to the bathhouse and reassembled on return, creating the illusion that those sent outside for a wash simply come back. At the same time, Ainsworth cultivates a private dream—his long-distance pen pal he has never met, whom he hopes to marry once freedom comes.

The scheme is put to the test when an initial attempt is allowed, and Erickson wins the draw to go out through the same route. After a waiting period, the group decides to reuse the ploy. This time, a friend overhears that the pen pal hasn’t written in a while and rigs the draw so that he wins. Ainsworth auctions his place, but Captain Maddox, the senior POW, orders him to depart. He is recaptured the same day. Later, the camp commandant informs the men that Erickson was shot resisting arrest by the Gestapo; his ashes are handed over.

When SS Hauptsturmführer Schultz expresses interest in American Lieutenant Norton’s chronometer, Norton remarks that Schultz runs the camp’s boundary lights and asks him to see that they malfunction during the next Allied night bombing raid in exchange for the chronometer, but it’s a trap. Schultz signals his men to turn the lights back on while Norton is cutting through the barbed wire fence, and then shoots him down.

Schultz becomes the new Kommandant, and Ainsworth insists on another escape using Albert. He slips out at night to confront Schultz outside the camp. After a tense struggle, he takes Schultz’s pistol. As Allied bombs roar nearby, Schultz runs, and Ainsworth cannot bring himself to shoot the fleeing German in the back; a nearby bomb ends the pursuit. Ainsworth retrieves the chronometer from the dead man and walks away.