Directed By: John Sturges
Cast: Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, James Donald, Donald Pleasence and Charles Bronson
Genre: Adventure/Action
Length: 172 minutes
Cinema: 1963
Rating: Not Rated
I had heard a lot of good things about this movie before viewing it and I just had the intention to rent it and see just how good it really is. It turns out as no disappointment. McQueen who is one of my favorite actors gives a solid performance starring with other great actors such as James Garner, Donald Pleasence and Charles Bronson.
Based on the book by Paul Brickhill, which dealt with a real breakout from a German prisoner-of-war camp in which the author himself was interned, "The Great Escape" chronicles the exploits of a group of Allied POWs during World War II who undertook one of the biggest prison breaks of all time. In 1943 the Nazis decided to put their worst escapees in one ostensibly escape-proof, maximum-security camp. These were prisoners who had most often tried to escape previously, and putting all of the rotten apples in one basket seemed like a good idea at the time. What the Nazis didn't figure on, though, was that in this one camp would be the best escape artists of the war and, thus, the toughest men to control. Control them the Germans could not.
Although this is an action film, there is a minimum of violence and no profanity, so, if you're interested in such things, it is suitable for family viewing. Furthermore, it has aged well; unlike many older films, it does not look in any way dated. Indeed, I would say it remains as fresh and inspiring today as when it was made. And let us not forget that Elmer Bernstein's remarkable music is still instantly recognizable. That popular march tune that plays throughout the picture is an inspiration in itself.
Grade: A