SYNOPSIS

The Great Escape is the true story of one of the largest mass POW escapes during World War II. Hundreds of Allied officers, most of them British, as well as three Americans, who are classified as security risks by the Nazis for their repeated breakout attempts, are brought together in a remote "escape-proof" prison camp. With the arrival of Big X (the code name for an undercover British flight commander) to Stalag Luft III, a plan begins to take shape to smuggle out 250 prisoners, thereby tying up an inordinate amount of German military resources in their pursuit. Every detail of the plan is carefully thought out and executed: forging identity papers, retailoring uniforms into civilian clothes, digging long, intricate tunnels underground, and keeping it all hidden from their German captors until they can escape to freedom.

Director: John Sturges
Producer: John Sturges
Screenplay: James Clavell, W.R. Burnett, based on the book by Paul Brickhill
Cinematography: Daniel L. Fapp
Editing: Ferris Webster
Art Direction: Fernando Carrere
Original Music: Elmer Bernstein
Cast: Steve McQueen (Capt. Hilts "The Cooler King"), James Garner (Flight Lt. Hendley "The Scrounger"), Richard Attenborough (Squadron Leader Roger Bartlett "Big X"), James Donald (Group Capt. Ramsay "The SBO"), Charles Bronson (Flight Lt. Danny Velinski "The Tunnel King"), James Coburn (Flying Officer Sedgwick "The Manufacturer"), Donald Pleasence (Flight Lt. Blythe "The Forger").
C-173m. Letterboxed. Closed captioning.

Why THE GREAT ESCAPE is Essential

Based on a real-life war story that was sold to director John Sturges on his promise to remain faithful to the actual event, The Great Escape (1963) was not completely truthful in its depiction of a mass escape from a Nazi prisoner of war camp. But it had in its favor a wealth of bravado stunts, exciting action scenes, suspenseful moments of deception and discovery, incidental humor, appealing performances, and noble sentimentality that guaranteed its run as not only one of the most successful motion pictures of 1963 but one of the best-liked adventures of all time. Even many who weren't yet born when it was released treasure memories of seeing the film, and it continues to resonate with audiences and filmmakers alike in references, parodies, and affectionate tributes that crop up in dozens of movies and television shows to this day.

The Great Escape also remains a classic in the repertoire of Steve McQueen, one of the most popular screen stars of all time. The picture went a long way to establishing him in that position, as well as helping create, through his individualistic character Hilts, the King of Cool image by which the star is known today, even years after his untimely death at the age of 50 in 1980. Yet, despite the fact that McQueen was the above-the-title star of the picture, and went to great pains during its production to be sure his role, career, and image were well served by the project, he is in it only intermittently for the first hour and a half. Instead, everyone in the cast has his moment to shine, and the production is notable for an equally strong performance by James Garner, early work by future stars James Coburn and Charles Bronson, and the introduction of a number of British actors to international audiences such as Richard Attenborough, Donald Pleasence, David McCallum and John Leyton. Sturges never wavered from his initial intention of making a true ensemble piece in which each character, each cog in the intricate escape machine, functions equally. But it's a testament to McQueen's enduring star power and, in particular, the iconic status of his unforgettable daredevil motorcycle sequence, that we still think of The Great Escape as his picture.

Sturges has been noted as one of the first directors to make solid dramatic use of the wide screen format, pushing it beyond its function as a mere gimmick to lure audiences back into theaters. He uses it to excellent effect in The Great Escape, not only in the exciting escape-and-pursuit action scenes but also to convey a sense of the length and narrowness of the claustrophobic escape tunnels. Beyond a sense of fun, adventure, and suspense, Sturges keeps his focus on process and relationships, striving for a solid sense of character and a tribute to cooperation and the human spirit that has made the film a perennial favorite.

by Rob Nixon