Movielogr

Rating: 8.5 stars

Tags

Hulu TCM Germany world war 2 prison camp motorcycle chase train escape underground tunnel

All movies seen on 03/10/2025

View on: IMDb | TMDb

The Great Escape (1963)

Directed by John Sturges

Action | Adventure | Suspense

Most recently watched by sleestakk, jakeneff, Maniac

Overview

The Nazis, exasperated at the number of escapes from their prison camps by a relatively small number of Allied prisoners, relocate them to a high-security ‘escape-proof’ camp to sit out the remainder of the war. Undaunted, the prisoners plan one of the most ambitious escape attempts of World War II. Based on a true story.

Rated NR | Length 173 minutes

Actors

Steve McQueen | James Garner | Richard Attenborough | James Donald | Charles Bronson | Donald Pleasence | James Coburn | Hannes Messemer | David McCallum | Gordon Jackson | John Leyton | Angus Lennie | Nigel Stock | Robert Graf | Jud Taylor | Hans Reiser | Harry Riebauer | William Russell | Robert Freitag | Ulrich Beiger | George Mikell | Lawrence Montaigne | Robert Desmond | Til Kiwe | Heinz Weiss | Tom Adams | Karl-Otto Alberty

Viewing History (seen 2 times)

Viewing Notes

A thoroughly entertaining film that I’ve watched a dozen times. It’s basically two movies. The first part is drab and claustrophobic (the prison camp, close quarters, the tunneling) as they plan the escape. The second part opens up into an action/adventure: a manhunt that takes place across the beautiful German villages and countryside. A great all-star cast and rousing music.

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