The Great Escape

directed by John Sturges
List(s):"Movie One"
Category: "War"
Year of Release:1963
Date Added:01/02/2015
Date Watched:01/04/2024
Description:Loosely based on an actual escape from a German prisoner-of-war camp. A team of British and American officers who have often tried to escape are collected together in an "inescapable" camp. Led by Bartlett (Richard Attenborough), the men dig three tunnels. The intent was to get 250 men out in one night, but only 76 made it, mostly because the man who measured the tunnel length wrong also tripped and made noise on his escape. Of the 76, 50 were rounded up and shot by the Gestapo, three actually escaped out of Germany, and the rest were returned. Also featured are Hilts (Steve McQueen), Hendley (James Garner), Danny (Charles Bronson), Blythe (Donald Pleasence), and Sedgwick (James Coburn). The movie chronicles the planning and building of the tunnels and the hunt for the escapees.
My Rating:8

Reviews for The Great Escape

Review - Great Escape, The

I've seen it at least twice before. Although it's long and detailed, it manages to be interesting throughout, although I thought Attenborough as the leader was poorly cast.

Reviewed by Roger on 2024-01-04 19:51:49

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