The Great Escape

The Great Escape begins with the opening of a new German concentration camp designed to house all of the POWs who have been incorrigible at participating in numerous escape attempts. This new prison is "escape proof" and manned with elite guards. The allied officers in the camp do not choose to accept their fate as prisoners. Instead, they plan the most audacious escape attempt ever as they try to spring 250 men in a single night. The planning is highly elaborate and extremely well executed for the most part. I won't reveal more of the plot for the benefit of those who haven't yet seen this classic movie but it should be noted that it is based on a true story.The cast of this movie is one of the best ever assembled. There are some "name" actors such as Steve McQueen, James Garner, Charles Bronson, and James Coburn. All of them are beyond excellent in their performances. McQueen and Garner get the plum roles but all of them shine. Beyond these few, the film is absolutely loaded with strong actors some of whom look familiar but all are believable in their roles. Elmer Bernstein created the score which features one of the most memorable movie themes I've ever heard. The director is John Sturges who also created the great western The Magnificent Seven (Special Edition), and the classic Spencer Tracy film Bad Day at Black Rock among other gems. He is to be commended for crafting a three-hour movie that never drags, never feels like its losing focus at all. Sturges had a big story to tell and he took the time to tell it very well. Needless to say, he got the most from the impressive assemblage of acting talent.As a nice bonus there is a documentary on the making of the film. It's certainly not going to rival the best you'll ever see but it was interesting and enjoyable to watch.The Great Escape is not just a good movie, it is truly one of the finest ever produced. The script is exceptional and the actors and director did it full justice. At various times, it's funny, interesting, dramatic, and suspenseful. Each note is hit perfectly at just the right time. The fact that it's based on a true story from WWII only adds to the impact. I recommend The Great Escape to one and all. I'd say they don't make them like this any more, but the truth is that they never did. Not more than once every blue moon anyway.

Classic great movie

It does not get much better than THE GREAT ESCAPE. It's truly an American classic that seems as fresh now as it did 40 years ago. Steve McQueen's daring motorcyle escape is a screen legend. It is amazing to know that THE GREAT ESCAPE is based on a real life escape from a POW camp. It is an incredible story of bravery and ingenuity.Director John Sturges strived for complete authenticity and accuracy. The POW camp was built with painstaking detail outside of German studio. Although some characters were composites of several men, an effort was made to tell the real story using actual former prisoners and escapees as consultants. I highly recommend the 2 disc Special Edition that is loaded with featurettes about the filming of the movie and of the desire for authenticity. Cast and crew give their recollections as do the former POW.THE GREAT ESCAPE is stunning in its beauty. The international cast is a testament to great filmmaking. Ironically, the Americans were transferred to another camp before the actual escape, so in real life no Americans made the escape. They did participate in the planning. Steve McQueen and James Garner were important to the filmmakers to make the film more bankable with leading American actors. McQueen was promised a chance to show off his motorcycle riding skills and the script was changed so that the famous motorcyle seen was added. McQueen did most of the riding but was not allowed, for insurance reasons, to do the actual dangerous jump. It is also mentioned in the features that not only is he being chased, he also played the part of the German chasing him. The featurettes are so full of fascinating facts that you can't miss them.

Received my order in timely manner. Love the movie

The plot is dead simple: 250 Allied prisoners of war are gonna make their way out of a German camp. Every plan they make hits an obstacle, years of incarceration is putting the prisoners on the edge, the Gestapo are out for blood, and not everyone is going to make it out alive. Yet they persevere. The prisoners gladly put aside their differences, British and Americans sharing moonshine on the Fourth of July, to tackle a common goal: get the hell out of Germany.Every big movie star and their dog is in this movie, and it's wonderful and brings the camp alive. Richard Attenborough is a wounded, haunted, boyish-faced survivor of the Gestapo, James Garner as the smooth-talking American who can get whatever you need, and of course Steve McQueen -- who can't help but put on a bratty smile right before he thinks up his next way out. Every character, even Donald Pleasence's mild-mannered forger, is given *just enough* to make you root for them, to want to get them back home so this forger can go bird-watching again.And just when they dig themselves out, you see the movie has about an hour or so left. "Uh oh..."The movie wisely and quickly makes it clear this isn't completely the truth. It doesn't even matter if they actually get out or not. What is so essential to the movie is the feeling of liberation. I mean, just get a load of the cover: Steve McQueen on the back of a motorcycle. If the cover alone doesn't want to make you break out and run for freedom, surely the movie will do the rest.