Today’s quick review: The Great Escape. During World War II, the Luftwaffe constructs a new POW camp to hold their most troublesome prisoners, a group of Allied officers who have made dozens of escape attempts between them. There, under the leadership of Roger Bartlett (Richard Attenborough), the men begin planning their most ambitious escape attempt yet. But to pull it off, they will have to tunnel over 300 feet without getting caught by the guards.
The Great Escape is a classic war drama and adventure that follows a group of Allied POWs as they attempt to escape from a German prison camp. The men must use every ounce of ingenuity they have to dig three tunnels and keep them a secret from Colonel Von Luger (Hannes Messemer). The Great Escape earns its place as a classic thanks to a talented ensemble cast, a remarkable story, and a tone that covers the full spectrum from hope and triumph to despair.
The bedrock of The Great Escape is the escape plan itself. True to the film’s name, the plan is much more ambitious than the usual prison break, calling for three tunnels, dangerous engineering work, and clothes and forged documents for 250 prisoners. The tricks the prisoners use are ingenious, while the setbacks and heartbreaks they face along the way give the film its fair share of drama. The result is a lengthy but engaging story with lots going on.
The other notable part of The Great Escape is its cast. As escape preparations go on, the film finds time to introduce the personalities and ambitions of the men. The ensemble cast includes Steve McQueen as Virgil Hilts, a daring American pilot; James Garner as Robert Hendley, a scrounger who can get almost anything; Donald Pleasance as Colin Blythe, a mild-mannered forger; and Charles Bronson as Danny Velinski, a tunneling expert.
The Great Escape is well worth a watch for any fan of the classics. The cleverness of the plan, the humanity of the characters, and the scope of the story all contribute to an iconic film that delivers on its promise. The length of the film and its large cast require a fair amount of effort from the audience, but the quality of the storytelling makes it worth the investment. Skip it if you’re looking for simple action or a light adventure.
For another iconic war drama about a World War II POW camp, check out The Bridge on the River Kwai. For a more personal drama about a prisoner with dreams of escape, try The Shawshank Redemption or Cool Hand Luke. For a parody of The Great Escape and similar World War II films, try Top Secret! or Chicken Run.
8.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 8.0 for an impressive story and memorable performances.