Before i get in to the actual movie, i think it's important to point out that The Great Escape is very much based upon a true story.
In World War II, the Germans grew tired of repeated escape attempts by POWs across the nation. As a way of putting "all their dirty eggs in one basket", the worst offenders were sent to a newly constructed camp; the infamous Stalag Luft III. Of course, what the Germans didn't consider was that by grouping the men together, they were subsequently grouping the very finest escape artists in the land.
"For you, the war is over."
A line famous as traditional German speech having captured a POW. But for these men, the war was far from over.
Not to reveal details for those who've yet to see the movie, but this long picture (close to three hours) depicts the efforts of the captured POWs as they evaded the camp guards and took part in the most famous prison breakout of all time. The ways in which they succeeded are truly inventive and imaginative. As such, watching this film makes for a history lesson as much as it does an enthralling ride through wartime Germany. Of course, there are several fancy Hollywood additions to help progress the entertainment side of the story, but the majority of what you see is exactly how it happened in real life. The numbers have naturally been scaled down. The real Great Escape involved hundreds of POWs, although the picture only follows the antics of thirty or forty. This is understandable given that each character needs to be devloped for the viewer to grow
an attachment to the cast.
If you're looking for a movie to depict scenes of violence and graphic intrepretation of the war, this isn't for you. The beauty of The Great Escape doesn't lie in fancy action sequences straight out of Hollywood (all except one). The movie prevails through it's great attention to detail and inspired characters.
The casting is impeccable. Richard Attenborough makes a name for himself as Roger Bartlett, a true-to-life version of the real 'Big X' who lead the escape all those years ago. The original Big X, Roger Bushell, was the man in charge of all escape attempts and Attenborough slots perfectly in to his role of command. It would be impossible not to mention Steve McQueen. This is the movie which the great man is most fondly remembered for. Playing the American, Virgil Hilts, his role is crucial. McQueen is the American superstar that sold the film when it was released in the sixties. Although he takes part in the escape, it's important to remember that no Americans actually escaped in the real story. They were supposed to, but the Germans moved them to a seperate compound just weeks before the famous breakout.
Elsewhere, there are strong performances throughout. A likeable James Garner plays 'the scrounger' - A man in charge of getting goods from the German guards to aid in their escape. James Coburn and Charles Bronson also star in what at the time was an all-star cast.
For a film which strays purposely clear of action sequences, the tension created is astounding. Excellent directing and as mentioned, fantastic acting, make this a real treat to watch. Perhaps one of it's greatest attractions is that we KNOW the actions unfolding on the screen happened for real. It's easy to immerse yourself in what must have been going through the mind of the men. Various ex-POWS who took part in the escape attempt have praised the movie for it's accurate intrepretation of events.
When discussing the ending of the movie, there was a great deal of concern over just how the story could be rounded off without depressing the viewer. They needn't have bothered really. While it would be foolish to deem The Great Escape a happy go-lucky summer picture, the ending satisfies in many ways. By the time the closing credits roll, you've been on such a rollercoaster ride with the characters that you can accept a distinctly un-Hollywood climax. The final hour is about as exhilarating as i've seen in any movie. Shying away from too many big bangs, the characters make their final daring escape across Germany. You'll be on the edge of your seats as the escapees do their utmost to evade the Nazis. The character investment is so excellent in the first two hours that we really care about McQueen. We care about Garner. You'll find yourself wishing each of the characters home, despite knowing in the back of your mind that most of them aren't going to make it to their next birthday, let alone to safety.
As for extras, this DVD provides plenty. There are some very interesting documentaries and the simple fact that the story is based on a real event provides hours worth of material for the producers to sink their teeth in to. We hear from some of the men who were involved in the real escape, and compare exactly how they made the film so close to the original events.
There's also a very revealing audio commentary for the entire film. We get to hear from Garner, one of the last remaining survivors of the cast, and there's some interesting information available for those who find interest in the real event.
For a movie produced in 1964, the picture has been restored most faithfully. The audio is also sharp and you won't be finding any complaints in the general production. The movie can be found in several different versions, a couple of special editions and a usual widescreen release. Of all the options, this is most certainly the best of the lot. The special features are strong and there's plenty of material to sink your teeth in to if you have a few hours to burn.
Rumours were running wild on many grapevine sites that Jean Claude Van Damme wanted to produce a remake of this classic picture. I'd beg him on my hands and knees to leave the story alone. I don't see how any modern incarnation could recapture the faithful appeal of this lovable movie.
This film ranks as one of my favorites ever. As soon as the instantly noticable soundtrack kicks in, you know that you're in for a ride and three hours worth of enjoyment. Make no mistake, this isn't designed to be a 'Feel Good' film. The true story of The Great Escape is as tragic as it is inspiring, and the best compliment i can pay to the people who produced this is that they did justice to 'the 50'.
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Production Year: 1954 - War - Director: Michael Anderson - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Richard Todd, Michael Redgrave, Ursula Jeans, Basil Sydney, Patrick Barr, Ernest Clark, Derek Farr, Laurence Naismith
Production Year: 1970 - War - Director: Brian G. Hutton - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Carroll O'Connor, Donald Sutherland, Don Rickles, Gavin MacLeod
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Dec 29th, 2005
(Jan 2nd, 2006)
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