The Password is Courage, a 1962 World War II drama starring Dirk Bogarde, Maria Perschy, and Alfred Lynch, will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer from Sunday, June 21, 2026, following its broadcast on BBC Two. The film has drawn comparisons to the 1963 classic The Great Escape and is based on the true story of Sergeant Major Charles Coward, a World War II veteran who was captured at Dunkirk in 1940 and spent his captivity organizing sabotage and escape attempts.
Film Adaptation and Critical Reception
Adapted from a book chronicling Coward's experiences, The Password is Courage premiered in 1962 and proved popular with audiences while garnering critical praise at the time, according to the Express. One admirer on IMDb.com described it as the "real Great Escape," noting that the film was released a year before The Great Escape and is "more factual than the more popular Hollywood version."
On Rotten Tomatoes, users shared comments calling the film "underrated" and "worth a watch." One individual remarked, "Almost forgotten but absolutely brilliant," while another enthused, "I would recommend it to anyone!" A viewer noted, "I thought this movie was very well paced. Just when I thought I might get bored, something unexpected would happen. It kept me entertained." Another fan stated, "This is one of my favourite World War II movies."
Realism and Veteran Involvement
The film's realism was enhanced by the fact that Dirk Bogarde, who played the lead role, was a real-life World War II veteran. One reviewer commented, "For a film that was done on a low budget, I thoroughly enjoyed this. The realism must have been helped by the fact that Dirk Bogarde was a real life veteran. The film was a real story (probably with the occasional embellishment). All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed it."
Comparison to The Great Escape
The Great Escape, released in 1963 and starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Richard Attenborough, depicted the attempts of prisoners of war to break free from a German camp during World War II. Despite the chronological and factual differences, The Password is Courage has been consistently compared to its more famous counterpart, though many viewers argue it stands on its own merits as a compelling and historically grounded drama.
The Password is Courage will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
