Arguably the best World War II adventure film ever made, John Sturges's dramatisation of the true story of a group of British, American, and Canadian POWs who executed a massive... more
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GREAT ESCAPE
Arguably the best World War II adventure film ever made, John Sturges's dramatisation of
... more
the true story of a group of British, American, and Canadian POWs who executed a massive escape from Stalag Luft III in Upper Silesia in March 1944, stars Steve Mc...
GREAT ESCAPE
Arguably the best World War II adventure film ever made, John Sturges's dramatisation of
... more
the true story of a group of British, American, and Canadian POWs who executed a massive escape from Stalag Luft III in Upper Silesia in March 1944, stars Steve McQueen as the rebellious Virgil Hilts. The German high command has filtered out all the most talented escape artists of the Allies' and placed them in a POW camp specifically designed to foil any unwanted departures. Of course, as soon as they arrive, the prisoners begin work on a series of tunnels under the direction of Roger Big X Bartlett (Richard Attenborough). He assigns the POWs to jobs according to their specialties: Bob Scrounger Hendley (James Garner) steals necessary items, Eric Dispersal Ashley-Pitt (David McCallum) hides the soil being dug from the tunnels, and Danny the Tunnel King Willinski (Charles Bronson) and Colin the Forger Blythe (Donald Pleasence) have self-explanatory handles. For more than a year, 600 prisoners, most of whom won't be leaving, work toward an escape that will temporarily disrupt the operations of the German army. The host of big-name stars meshes beautifully in this meticulous re-creation of the legendary escape. Although this is a film about courage, Sturges wisely takes a low-key approach, leavened with humour, rather than allowing the cast to indulge in macho antics. However, McQueen's memorable motorcycle stunts could be said to fit in that category. THE GREAT ESCAPE, based on the book by Paul Brickhill, is quite simply one of the grandest war films ever made, featuring many key scenes (McQueen's motorcycle chase, McQueen tossing the baseball against the cell wall, Bronson sliding on his chest in the tunnel) that are unforgettable.n
GREAT ESCAPE
Arguably the best World War II adventure film ever made, John Sturges's dramatisation of
... more
the true story of a group of British, American, and Canadian POWs who executed a massive escape from Stalag Luft III in Upper Silesia in March 1944, stars Steve McQueen as the rebellious Virgil Hilts. The German high command has filtered out all the most talented escape artists of the Allies' and placed them in a POW camp specifically designed to foil any unwanted departures. Of course, as soon as they arrive, the prisoners begin work on a series of tunnels under the direction of Roger Big X Bartlett (Richard Attenborough). He assigns the POWs to jobs according to their specialties: Bob Scrounger Hendley (James Garner) steals necessary items, Eric Dispersal Ashley-Pitt (David McCallum) hides the soil being dug from the tunnels, and Danny the Tunnel King Willinski (Charles Bronson) and Colin the Forger Blythe (Donald Pleasence) have self-explanatory handles. For more than a year, 600 prisoners, most of whom won't be leaving, work toward an escape that will temporarily disrupt the operations of the German army. The host of big-name stars meshes beautifully in this meticulous re-creation of the legendary escape. Although this is a film about courage, Sturges wisely takes a low-key approach, leavened with humour, rather than allowing the cast to indulge in macho antics. However, McQueen's memorable motorcycle stunts could be said to fit in that category. THE GREAT ESCAPE, based on the book by Paul Brickhill, is quite simply one of the grandest war films ever made, featuring many key scenes (McQueen's motorcycle chase, McQueen tossing the baseball against the cell wall, Bronson sliding on his chest in the tunnel) that are unforgettable.n
GREAT ESCAPE^ THE
Blur: Damon Albarn (vocals, piano, organ, synthesizer, handclaps); Graham Coxon (acoustic
... more
& electric guitars, banjo, saxophone, handclaps, background vocals); Alex James (bass, handclaps, background vocals); Dave Rowntree (drums, handclaps, background vocals).Additional personnel: Cathy Gillat (vocals); The Right On Ken Livingstone (spoken vocals); Stephen Street (handclaps); Angela Murrell, Teresa Jane Davis (background vocals).The Duke Strings Quartet: Louisa Fuller, Rick Koster (violin); John Metcalfe (viola); Ivan McCermoy (cello).The Kick Horns: Simon Clarke, Tim Sanders (saxophone); Roddy Lorimer (trumpet); Neil Sidwell (trombone).Recorded at Maison Rouge and Townhouse Studios, London, England between January and May 1995.Beyond British and sensationally sociological, Blur and singer/songwriter Damon Albarn weave tales of stifling middle class ennui into clever pop vignettes. THE GREAT ESCAPE is another demonstration of Blur's unique intelligence, more of Albarn's witty commentary, and substantial proof that the group may be bordering on genius.As usual, Albarn's senses are keen on THE GREAT ESCAPE. His ear for melody and sound textures shines throughout the album's fifteen brilliant tracks. The ska horns and spy soundtrack guitar riffing on Fade Away exemplify Blur's knack for pop music, yet elevate the song beyond simple genre-fication, with a dignity reserved for the orchestra pit. The snide humor behind Mr. Robinson And His Quango rubs shoulders with the desperation of He Thought Of Cars, all the while dwelling on what they hope to escape. It's this nagging dread that carries the album--the sense that the people Albarn describes are as desperate to find meaning as Albarn is to capture it within the song's narrative.THE GREAT ESCAPE may not turn into Blur's great American breakthrough album, but if you're not thrown by Albarn's overwhelmingly British aesthetic, it just might be enough to take you away from the confines of your day to day doldrums.[Reviews]Q (12/99, p.84) - Included in Q Magazine's 90 Best Albums Of The 1990s.Q (2/96, p.62) - Included in Q's 50 Best Albums of 1995.Melody Maker (12/23-30/95, pp.66-67) - Ranked #10 on Melody Maker's list of 1995's `Albums Of The Year.'NME (12/23-30/95, pp.22-23) - Ranked #9 in NME's `Top 50 Albums Of The Year' for 1995.Spin (11/95, pp.124-125) - 6 - Reasonably Good - ...Blur turns the rotating-robot staccato silverware clank of manlier Limeys like Elastica...into dance oriented pop muzik. When it's swirling fast and busy, it's wonderful...Q (10/95, p.110) - 5 Stars - Indispensable - ...THE GREAT ESCAPE's rich tapestry is matched by music of kaleidoscopic surprises--half punk and half pop-psychedelic in its influences, restlessly innovative in its execution...Melody Maker (9/9/95, p.33) - Bloody Essential - ...Blur's fourth album (theirs is now the most interesting career since Joy Division metamorphosed into New Order) is more robotic than rock, less Kinks than Kraftwerk....Blur understand the geometry of the song, and the basic principles of pop, better than anyone today....The experimental hits just keep on coming...NME (9/9/95, p.46) - 9 (out of 10) - ...If Noel Oasis' strength derives from an ambition to be the John Lennon of his generation, then Blur want to be Lennon AND McCartney. Which means THE GREAT ESCAPE is so rammed with tunes, ideas, emotions, humour, tragedy, farce, and edgy beauty that's it's utterly beyond contemporary compare...n
The Great Film Review ofThe Great Escape (Definitive Edition)by
XTubbzX
Advantages: Star studded cast, Based on a true story, Funny, And that motorcycle chase which everybody loves Disadvantages: I cant think of one honestly
The Great Escape, written by James Clavell, W.R. Burnett, and Walter Newman (who went uncredited for this film), and directed by John Sturges is a popular 1963 World War II film starring Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough and James Garner, based on a true story about Allied prisoners of war with a record for escaping from German prisoner-of-war camps. The Luftwaffe placed them in a new more secure camp, Stalag Luft III, from which they promptly ... ...film was based upon the factual book of the same name by Paul Brickhill, who observed the actual events as a prisoner, as did George Harsh who supplied the introduction. Harsh, one of the few Americans in the British section of Stalag Luft III, died in 1980 at age 72, according to a 1980 page of obituaries in Time magazine.
Featuring an all-star cast including McQueen (whose motorcycle chase is the film's most remembered action scene; he also did ...
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Actor(s): Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Richard Attenborough, James Coburn
Director(s): John Sturges
Genre: War
Classification: Parental Guidance
Production Year: 1963
Running Time: 2 hours 46 minutes
Video Category: Feature Film
Release details
DVD Region: Region 2 (Europe)
Studio(s): MGM ENTERTAINMENT; 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Release date: 05/03/2007
No of Discs: 2
Catalogue No: 1617901054
Barcode: 5039036030724
Languages
Main Language: English
Technical information
Special Features: Audio Commentary By Cast And Crew, An American Icon Documentary, History Versus Hollywood Documentary, The Great Escape The Untold Story, Trivia Track, Theatrical Trailer, Photo Galleries
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound: Dolby Digital
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DVD Description
Arguably the best World War II adventure film ever made, John Sturges's dramatisation of the true story of a group of British, American, and Canadian POWs who executed a massive escape from Stalag Luft III in Upper Silesia in March 1944, stars Steve McQueen as the rebellious Virgil Hilts. The German high command has filtered out all the most talented escape artists of the Allies' and placed them in a POW camp specifically designed to foil any unwanted departures. Of course, as soon as they arrive, the prisoners begin work on a series of tunnels under the direction of Roger "Big X" Bartlett (Richard Attenborough). He assigns the POWs to jobs according to their specialties: Bob "Scrounger" Hendley (James Garner) steals necessary items, Eric "Dispersal" Ashley-Pitt (David McCallum) hides the soil being dug from the tunnels, and Danny "the Tunnel King" Willinski (Charles Bronson) and Colin "the Forger" Blythe (Donald Pleasence) have self-explanatory handles. For more than a year, 600 prisoners, most of whom won't be leaving, work toward an escape that will temporarily disrupt the operations of the German army. The host of big-name stars meshes beautifully in this meticulous re-creation of the legendary escape. Although this is a film about courage, Sturges wisely takes a low-key approach, leavened with humour, rather than allowing the cast to indulge in macho antics. However, McQueen's memorable motorcycle stunts could be said to fit in that category. THE GREAT ESCAPE, based on the book by Paul Brickhill, is quite simply one of the grandest war films ever made, featuring many key scenes (McQueen's motorcycle chase, McQueen tossing the baseball against the cell wall, Bronson sliding on his chest in the tunnel) that are unforgettable.
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