When I was growing up this movie was a staple of Bank Holiday, especially Christmas and Easter. Having not seen it for a long time I'm pleased to say it's still a great film. Almost whimsical I think with a lead character Brooks (Oliver Reed) who hates the war, and several characters who feel the same. The location work is fantastic due to the Bavarian and Austrian scenery. Brooks, a prisoner of war, is working at the local Zoo when it's bombed, it's up to Brooks to get the Elephant called Lucy, to Austria. Plans change though and Brooks heads for Switzerland. Helped by the Austrian Willy (Helmut Lohner) and Pole Vronia (Karin Baal) they get to the border but sacrifices are made. Comedy comes from Michael J Pollard as Packy, an American saboteur who pops up from time to time, but it's Reed and the elephant who make the film, definitely one of his best movies.
Review of Hannibal Brooks
