Movielogr

The Great Escape (1963)

Directed by John Sturges

History | War | Adventure

Most recently watched by 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 1 time)

Date ViewedDeviceFormatSourceRating
06/03/2013TVDVDLibrary8 stars
 

Viewing Notes

One of the bigger blindspots in my movie viewing. Couldn’t really say why I haven’t seen this movie already but possibly because it’s *that* movie, the type of popular and well-regarded film that everyone has seen. Not an excuse but it’s just been one of those kinds of movies for me, i.e. never been in a rush to view it knowing I’d see it eventually.

But since it features Charles Bronson I had it pegged for my Bronson project to finally catch up with it. And he’s truly excellent here even with that accent. Yet he’s only one component in this all-star cast of soldiers plotting their escape. Each really has their moments. Surprised me that Steve McQueen has always been the face of this film and yet he’s only a part of the larger story.

The movie wouldn’t be anything without the great performances by Garner or Pleasence or Coburn, et al. It really was an epic film of its time and understandably so. Glad to finally view it and cross it off my list of shame. Another one that would be great to see on the big screen.

Comments

No comments yet. Log in and be the first!