The only prisoner who couldn't escape—until he was already dead.
During World War I Major Errol Phipps is determined to escape from Stalag Luft 112B but his attempts all fail. However all the other prisoners and the guards succeed, leaving him alone in the camp to make elaborate plans - including a tunnel system so extensive it becomes the Munich Underground. He is so obsessed with his escape plans he fails to realize that the war has ended and dies a disappointed man. He does however manage to escape from his grave after he has been buried though.
Acting
Palin's physical comedy in empty camp scenes is masterclass minimalism
Production
The tunnel set—ridiculously overbuilt for a 30-minute comedy
Writing
Final grave punchline lands like a gentle shovel to the head
Director
Jim Franklin
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was part of Ripping Yarns, Palin's post-Python anthology series parodying boys' adventure stories.
The 30-minute runtime was deliberately awkward for British TV—too short for a slot, too long for filler.
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