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The Great Escape (1963)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
4 July 1963 (USA)
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Tagline:
put a fence in front of these men...and they'll climb it... more
Plot:
Allied POWs plan for several hundred of their number to escape from a German camp during World War II. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 3 wins
&
4 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(45 articles)
Machan is streets ahead of any Hollywood product
(From The Guardian - Film News. 19 November 2009, 9:23 AM, PST)
Poor start for Pamela Anderson series
(From digitalspy. 3 November 2009, 2:41 AM, PST)
(From The Guardian - Film News. 19 November 2009, 9:23 AM, PST)
Poor start for Pamela Anderson series
(From digitalspy. 3 November 2009, 2:41 AM, PST)
User Comments:
A genuine timeless classic.
more (244 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) more
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
172 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Iceland:12 |
Canada:PG (Ontario) |
USA:Approved (PCA #20399) |
USA:Unrated (video release) |
West Germany:12 (f) |
South Korea:12 |
Netherlands:12 |
New Zealand:PG |
Australia:PG |
Finland:K-16 |
Norway:16 |
Portugal:M/12 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
In issue 73 of Your Sinclair magazine in January 1992, the Spectrum stealth game adaptation of this movie was voted the 23rd best game of all time.
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Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: When the Americans are marching as "The Spirit of '76", they stop before the Senior Barracks Officer. The last fife note is heard after Hilts lowers the fife from his lips.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Peep Show: (#1.3)" (2003)
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FAQ
What did Henley mean when he asked Blythe "What are you doing here?"What is a "mole" escape?
Any recommendations for movies similar to "The Great Escape"?
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more (244 total)
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During World War Two the Germans build a new prison camp, Stalag Luft III, for the express purpose of housing many of their most troublesome captured Allied airmen. However, all this serves to do is to pool the resources of some of the most ingenious escape artists in captivity and fill them with a resolve to engineer a mass breakout from the camp.
Based largely on real events, this film has assumed classic status over the years and its easy to understand why. Quite simply, it excells in many departments. Director John Sturges was at the height of his creative powers and he keeps a firm grip on the proceedings. Although the film runs close to three hours it never feels sluggish, while at the same time winding up the tension gradually and developing the characters. The production design is first rate, to the point where Donald Pleasance (who had been a P.O.W.) felt quite intimidated by the vast set on his arrival. Daniel Fapp's beautiful photography shows this and the picturesque German locations off to full effect. Put these virtues together with a good script, inspired casting and a classic score by Elmer Bernstein, and you have an object lesson in how to create an intelligent and exciting big budget adventure film.
On the subject of the cast; Much is made of Steve McQueen's role. While I am a huge McQueen fan, I feel that some of the other performances are equal to, if not better than his. Richard Attenborough, James Garner, Donald Pleasance, Charles Bronson and Gordon Jackson are all excellent. Good too are James Coburn, James Donald, David McCallum and Hannes Messemer as the sympathetic Commandant.
This is one of those films that I can happily watch time and time again. In September of this year a new print was screened at the NFT in London as part of an 'Attenborough at 80' season. It was a pleasure to see this on the big screen at last. For the most part the print was in very good condition. The DVD was one of the first that I ever bought some three and a half years ago, and I watched its inevitable Christmas screening on BBC2 last night. I just never tire of it. In these days of brainless, poorly executed action fodder, its a joy to behold something that hits its targets so precisely.