The Great Escape (DVD)

Undoubtedly one of the most entertaining war movies ever made, this is based on the true story of 76 Allied soldiers who managed to escape from a German P.O.W. camp in 1942. Released in 1963, The Great Escape was one of the most successful blockbusters of its day and consolidated Steve McQueen's status as a film legend. The story begins with the arrival of these Allied P.O.W.s at a newly constructed high-security camp. There, the German commandant ...
...co-operate with their captors until the war is over. Of course, they have absolutely no intention of doing so. Indeed, no sooner have they arrived than some of the more daring among them are trying to break out. It seems the Germans have rather foolishly incarcerated the best escape artists together in one place so what could they have expected? So, led by the determined squadron leader Bartlett, alias Big X (Richard Attenborough), we now have a ...

HSimpson 15.04.2001 · Read full review
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...how does it relate to The great Escape)? When I asked Mrs TheNeil what she fancied watching, she quite surprisingly opted for The Great Escape. Huh? "But surely dear you mean Grease or some such other twaddle?". No, she was adamant, The Great Escape. Ok then dear, you know best (she's scary when she picks the bread knife up so she tends to get her own way) and anyway, it had been a while since we'd spun this particular DVD. With German forces stretched, ...
...that is escape proof. Immediately the inmates try escape attempt after escape attempt but it seems that the Nazi's might actually have managed to achieve the impossible and build an escape proof prison. With the arrival of chief escape officer Bartlett (Big X), the escape attempts are focused into one channel - A vast tunnel. Hoping to free 250 men in one go, the 'experts' set to work, tunneling, forging, scrounging, and preparing everything for ...

TheNeil 31.07.2001 · Read full review
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Review of The Great Escape (DVD)

I feel mildly guilty. The other week I was composing my top 10 list of films and The Great Escape despite being an absolutely cracking film missed out on inclusion. So to assuage my conscience I'm gonna devote a whole opinion to saying how great it is. And it isn't difficult because this is a truly brilliant film for a whole variety of reasons. But before I go into them just for anyone who's here by accident and has never heard of the Great Escape ...
...- 250 through three tunnels. The first half of the film sets up all of the characters and details of the planning etc. Then the escape happens and despite a cock-up 76 get away. And in case you haven't seen the film I won't entirely spoil the ending by telling you what happens to them then. Instead I'll expand on why this film is so superb: 1. Acting This film had a truly all-star cast: Richard Attenborough as Sqd Ldr Bartlett the architect of ...

Sweep1 18.05.2001 · Read full review
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After the harsh realities of combat inflicted on us by the likes of 'Saving Private Ryan', it's sometimes nice to settle back into a different era of war movies. Back when 'The Great Escape' was made, it didn't matter if the movie took a few liberties were taken with the story - as long as it was told in a manner that pleased us, then so be it. So it's nice to see a bunch of Allied heroes running circles around benign prison guards. Reassuring to ...
...again. Some genius in the Nazi Prison Department comes up with the wise idea of putting all the most troublesome allied escapologists in one camp. They then provide them with all the stationary they need to make maps and forge documents, and plenty of gardening tools to steal and dig tunnels with. Not only that, the Germans decide to staff the camp with the most inept security guards this side of 'Hogan's Heroes'. So realism isn't a factor. But ...

Plissken 07.09.2001 · Read full review
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THE GREAT ESCAPE. *************************** ~Introduction~ **************** T his movie is based on a book by Paul Brickhill, who was actually in the camp in March 1944 Shown every Christmas and some would argue it wouldn't be Christmas without it being on telly. It is the story of British and American POWs escaping from their prison camp. The Movie. ************* Set during the Second World War, the Germans decide to build Stalag Luft ...
...one basket'. Sick of chasing the best escape artistes, the German high command decide to put them all together where they can ALL be watched. The camp is said to be escape proof. We follow the ups and downs of the prisoners as they plot to escape the 'Perfect' prison. You see the ingenuity of making tools, provisions and even uniforms almost literally from nothing. We see the tactics used, such as blackmailing guards to get what they want. Played ...

Maximus-Qualitus 24.12.2008 · Read full review
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...actually took place in the German prisoner of war camp Stalag III. (There were times when we called our school Stalag because of the harsh regime but that's got nothing to do with the Great Escape. But we did have our own tunnel.) Dramatised for effect as most of these films based on reality are, this is a tale of the "English" spirit in adversity. The fact that there were also Yanks, Poles, French, Russians etc. only marginally detracted from ...
...in POW camps by the senior officers in the film it was also maintained that way in reality. Never let it be said that an Englishman doesn't know his place. Never let it be said that an upper crust Englishman doesn't make sure that we are kept in our place whatever the situation. Stalag III was a camp were escapees from other camps were sent to after being re-captured, so in effect the Germans put into one place all the escaping experts of the war. ...

jimbuck 18.12.2000 · Read full review
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Review of The Great Escape (DVD)

THE GREAT ESCAPE. ============ The movie starts with prisoners being all brought to a new camp where the Germans hope to contain all of the best or from the Germans point of view, the worst escape artists that they have had to waste time and people chasing around the country. This camp has been especially built to contain them all. Regular number counts, difficult ground to tunnel in and all the inmates have their own identifying files kept and updated ...
...intelligence and dogged spirit that the Americans and the British have in abundance. The plan is simple but daring to get out as many prisoners through a tunnel as humanly possible. 300 would be nice but anywhere close to that would be acceptable. The cast is stellar and the acting off the scale, truly a classic film that I watch whenever possible. If they get caught they run the risk of the Gestapo shooting them dead but they have to escape they ...

MaldivesHoliday 07.02.2009 · Read full review
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The Great Escape. Director: John Sturgess. Screen writers: James Clavell & W.R.Burnett. Music Composer: Elmer Bernstien. The Film. In my opinion. Probably the best WWII prisoner of War film ever made. Based on a lot of truth, with only minor changes for film purposes. In 1943 the Germans, especially the Nazi's, are so fed up, with the time, expense and manpower, trying to apprehend escape prisoners, they come up with a solution, which is to ...
...Stalag Luft North.which is under the command of the German Luftwaffe.(Airforce). Here they assemble, prisoners of war from all the allied forces, unwittingly putting together the best of the best, as far as escaping is concerned. The British officers devise a plan, hoping to enable 250 prisoners to escape on a mass break out, by tunnelling 30 foot deep and 300 yds to the trees, and then escape of into the woods and make there separate ways, to ...

dreamscancometrue 22.12.2005 · Read full review
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...are widespread. This would do the trick better than any talks, seminars or conferences. Secondly, if you've ever given up on something you really wanted, then watch this film, reflect on it carefully, get up and go get what it is you wanted. This film could really make you do that. This film is based on the real-life experiences for a group of young men captured during WW2 and sent to this newly built, supposedly high security POW camp. Now this ...
...the greatest esape artists to ever live, and had all previously escaped on numerous occasions. So why you ask did the Germans put this lot together? Well, it is explained in the film that the Germans believe that the best option is to put all the bad eggs in one basket and watch this basket very carefully. Of course this idea is obsurd and after just entering the camp some of the men are already mastering their escape. To do this they would have ...

hooves 26.08.2004 · Read full review
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Possibly the best ever war time film ever made with stars falling out at the seams there are that many in it!!! This film inspired me to tunnel. I started digging a tunnel with a friend at the age of about 13 and man did we dig. It was about 6 ft deep ( prevent sound detection) and about 15 feet long. Then my mum discovered what we were up to and ordered us ( just like the camp commandant) to fill it in. Good job or I may not be here to tell the ...
...this film Sadness at the way they are all shot at the end. Happiness that 3 get away and excitement as Steve McQueen hurtles around parts of occupied Europe on a bike. If you have not seen it, Where have you been??? Oh, I have just ruined the ending!!!! DOH!! ...

andycharger 10.08.2000 · Read full review
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...although he did not make the jump himself, he did chase himself! Absolutely true!! Mr. McQueen was an acomplished motor cycle rider in his day and used to indulge in a spot of racing. However, I digress. The film has been digitally remastered and released on DVD boasting Dolby Digital. Unfortunately, it is a mono soundtrack. Now, if you are like me and have a home cinema type sound set up at home, you may be disappointed by the quality. My Yamaha ...
...is my amp or maybe the film, but it was not all it could be. The extras on this disc are limited to the 'Theatrical Trailer' and a making of sort of documentary which lasts about 25mins. Not the best making of I have seen but watchable. I shan't bore you with the acting, and the music, and set, and scenery as this a film which most of us out will have seen by now, more likely at Christmas or over a bank holiday weekend. Don't let my experience ...

Possom 27.09.2001 (28.09.2001) · Read full review
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...John Sturges (The Magnificent Seven, The Eagle has Landed) Starring – Steve McQueen (Bullitt, The Magnificent Seven, Papillon) Charles Bronson (Once upon a time in the West, The Dirty Dozen) Richard Attenborough (A Bridge too Far, Jurassic Park, Brighton Rock) James Coburn (The Magnificent Seven, The Battle of Midway) Synopsis Featuring an all-star cast, this movie is based in the notorious prison Stalag Luft. It's based on the true story of ...
...a daring escape. The Nazis have assembled a high security prison camp to contain all the allied prisoners who attempted breakouts in prison elsewhere. Steve McQueen gives a career-defining performance as Hilts, the baseball loving, motorbike-riding "Cooler King". The rest of the all-male Anglo-American cast features Richard Attenborough, Donald Pleasance, James Garner, Charles Bronson, David McCallum, James Coburn and Gordon Jackson. Closely based ...

knightrider7 15.06.2004 · Read full review
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Arguebly the best war film of all time. The great escape is set during WWII in a prisoner of war camp. The main aim of the film is for the prisoners to escape and flee to a safe area. The main characters are Hilts, Roger, Hendley. Firstly there is Hilts "the cooler king" as he was well known as in the film, because of his multiple daring escape attempts which did work but he was then caught the next day and sent to the cooler. Secondly there is Roger ...
...the the escapes and did actually manage to escape but then he was caught and murdered in the final scene. Hendley or "the scrounger" as he was better known, got someone to divert the attention of the guards while he would steal something useful. The main escape plan in the great escape is to escape out of the POW camp via an underground tunnel. The characters performance in the film were amazing and like no other. The stunts and special effects ...

chriscowper 17.11.2007 · Read full review
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...all be different. The blind man and his friend will make it to Switzerland and yes, Steve McQueen will get through the fence. The Great Escape is that kind of film: no matter how many times you watch it you are on the edge of your seat, with tension gripping you like nothing else, hoping and praying they all escape. It all seems blindingly obvious and how stupid the man that pops his head up in front of the guard is, yet everytime the plan is ruined. ...
...film all the more special is it is a true story. Because you have the knowledge in the back of your mind it all seems more gripping; the grim truth is better than a imaginative fantasy, I find. Also, the great appeal of this film is its war-time setting, this being a time in history which interests me greatly. If you haven't seen this film firstly where have you been as it is on every christmas day it seems! but secondly I recommend highly especially ...

Hetfield 16.05.2001 · Read full review
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The Great Escape(1963): Great addition of his ability by the director John Sturges to a true story happened in World War II.Well organized scenario and he knows to let the premium stars act freely their feelings.And the directors help makes the stars performances on the top.You can't escape your eyes from Steve McQueen who realize one of the best efforts like in the movie Papillon.The story is:The Allied flight forces prisoners plan to escape from ...
...is;they have ability to escape many times from the other P.O.W camps.Can they accomplish their plans?For the answer watch this movie although you know this true story. Cast: Director:John Sturges Star:Steve McQueen ,James Garner ,James Coburn ,Richard Attenborough ,James Donald ,Charles Bronson ,Donald Pleasence Screenwriter:W.R. Burnett ...

Dreamlight 25.09.2001 · Read full review
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Review of The Great Escape (DVD)