The 1962 World War II drama The Password is Courage, starring Dirk Bogarde, Maria Perschy, and Alfred Lynch, has been added to BBC iPlayer for free streaming. The film, which aired on BBC Two on Sunday, June 21, 2026, is based on the true story of Sergeant Major Charles Coward, who was captured at Dunkirk in 1940 and dedicated his captivity to acts of sabotage and escape.
Comparisons to 'The Great Escape'
The film has been compared to the 1963 classic The Great Escape, but fans note that The Password is Courage was released a year earlier and is more factual. One IMDb user wrote: 'This is truly a classic black and white British film and for those that claim it is just a poor version or copy of The Great Escape, maybe people should consider that the film was made and released a year before The Great Escape. And is in fact more factual than the more popular Hollywood version.'
Critical and Audience Reception
The film was critically acclaimed at its release and remains popular with viewers. On Rotten Tomatoes, one reviewer called it 'underrated' and 'worth a watch'. Another said: 'Almost forgotten but absolutely brilliant.' A third viewer commented: 'I thought this movie was very well paced. Just when I thought I might get bored, something unexpected would happen. It kept me entertained.'
One fan noted the realism aided by Bogarde's real-life military service: '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.'
Where to Watch
The Password is Courage is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. The film is based on a book about Sergeant Major Charles Coward, who encouraged fellow prisoners of war to attempt escapes from a German camp during World War II.
