The Great Escape (1963)

Trivia | Dvds | Videos
Steve McQueen | Bullitt | Papillon | Great Escape Posters

The Great Escape Smartphones Page

1963, 169 MINS, US, Colour

  • Dir: John Sturges
  • Prod: John Sturges
  • Scr: James Clavell, W. R. Burnett
  • Ph: Daniel Fapp
  • Ed: Ferris Webster
  • Mus: Elmer Bernstein
  • Art Dir: Fernando Carrere

    CAST:

  • Steve McQueen
  • James Garner
  • Richard Attenborough
  • Charles Bronson
  • Donald Pleasence
  • James Coburn

    (United Artists)


  • The Great Escape, 1963


    Click here to buy posters!
    Click here to buy posters!

    From Paul Brickhill's true story of a remarkable mass breakout by Allied POW's during World War II, producer-director John Sturges has fashioned a motion picture that entertains, captivates, thrils and stirs.

    The film is an account of the bold, meticulous plotting that led to the escape of 76 prisoners from a Nazi detention camp, and subsequent developments that resulted in the demise of 50, recapture of a dozen.

    Early scenes depict the formulation of the mass break design. These are played largely for laughs, at the occasional expense of reality, and there are times when authority seems so lenient that inmates almost appear to be running the asylum.

    There are some exceptional performances. The most provocative single impression is made by Steve McQueen as a dauntless Yank pilot whose 'pen'-manship shows 18 blots, or escape attempts. James Garner is the compound's 'scrounger', a traditional type in the Stalag 17 breed of war-prison film. Charles Bronson and James Coburn do solid work, although the latter's character is anything but clearly defined.

    British thespians weigh in with some of the finest performances in the picture. Richard Attenborough is especially convincing in a stellar role, that of the man who devoses the break. A moving portrayal of a prisoner losing his eyesight is given by Donald Pleasence. It is the film's most touching character.

    Elmer Bernstein's rich, expressive score is consistently . His martial, Prussianistic theme is particularly stirring and memorable.

    OSCARS

  • 1963 Nomination: Best Editing

    5 STARS OUT OF 5 - UNMISSABLE



    the great escape trivia | dvds | videos
    steve mcqueen | bullitt | papillon | great escape posters

    yul brynner | christopher plummer | romy schneider
    the godfather | the godfather part ii
    marlon brando | james caan | diane keaton | al pacino
    laurence olivier | clark gable | vivien leigh | leslie howard | alfred hitchcock | robert montgomery | grace kelly
    olivia de havilland | humphrey bogart | howard hawks | frank capra | charlie chaplin | lauren bacall | fritz lang
    jean harlow | greta garbo | ava gardner | audrey hepburn | edward g. robinson | john garfield
    erich von stroheim | wim wenders | madeleine carroll | marlene dietrich | rita hayworth



    the great escape dvds




    the great escape videos





    the great escape

    trivia | dvds | videos
    steve mcqueen | bullitt | papillon

    yul brynner | christopher plummer | romy schneider

    the godfather | the godfather part ii
    marlon brando | james caan | diane keaton | al pacino
    laurence olivier | clark gable | vivien leigh | leslie howard | alfred hitchcock | robert montgomery | grace kelly
    olivia de havilland | humphrey bogart | howard hawks | frank capra | charlie chaplin | lauren bacall | fritz lang
    jean harlow | greta garbo | ava gardner | audrey hepburn | edward g. robinson | john garfield
    erich von stroheim | wim wenders | madeleine carroll | marlene dietrich | rita hayworth







    Page created by: ihuppert5@aol.com
    Changes last made: 2013