~This review made possible thanks to MGM & 20th Century Fox~
One of the most ingenious and suspenseful adventure films of all time, The Great Escape is a masterful collaboration between director John Sturges (The Magnificent Seven), screenwriters James Clavell (Shogun) and W.R. Burnett (Little Caesar), and composer Elmer Bernstein. Based on a true story, The Great Escape is epic entertainment that ?captivates, thrills and stirs? (Variety).
When I told my husband that we would be reviewing the 50th Anniversary Blu-Ray edition of The Great Escape, you would have thought I told him Christmas and his birthday were arriving early this year. I couldn’t possibly believe that the movie could be that good. I chalked it up to my husband being history major and his adorable “man-crush” on the legendary Steve McQueen. I was wrong!
The Great Escape, which is based on a book by Paul Brickhill [who was a part of the real escape], was first released on July 4th, 1963, roughly 19 years after the true events took place. A group of Allied Prisoners of War are sent to the inescapable Stalag Luft III, a Nazi prison during World War II. The men decide to band together and concoct a plan to escape through the use of elaborate tunnels and well developed ideas.
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| Image from The Great Escape from imdb.com |
The movie can be broken up in two parts, the first half of the year long escape process helps the characters outwit the Nazi guards and develops characters into well rounded, genuine people who don’t use the movie as a soapbox for anti-German sentiments (which it could have easily done.)
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| Image from The Great Escape from imdb.com |
The second half of the movie is full of nail-biting suspense and edge of your seat action. Will the group make it? Will we have a happy ending? I don’t want to ruin anything for those who haven’t seen the film yet, but I will add, there is a very intense scene with Steve McQueen and the Nazis that includes a motorcycle and a jump!
The movie is filled with wonderful actors:
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Steve McQueen
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James Garner
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Richard Attenborough
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Charles Bronson
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Donald Pleasence (who was an actual prisoner during WWII)
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And many more
The Great Escape 50th Anniversary Blu-Ray also includes three hours of bonus features:
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Audio Commentary from Director John Sturges along with Cast & Crew
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Bringing Fact to Fiction
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Preperatons for Freedom
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The Flight to Freedom
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A Standing Ovation
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The Untold Story
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The Untold Story – Additional Interviews
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A Real Virgil Hilts: A Man Called Jones
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Return to The Great Escape
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The Original Theatrical Trailer
One other thing I enjoyed about having such a classic on Blu-Ray, although the quality of the picture has been enhanced, you still have that soft focal that most movies from that time period have. It just adds a certain touch that reminds you you’re about to watch a classic. The Great Escape is Not Rated, with a total run time of 5:31:51. If you find yourself with a free day or night, this is a great movie to share with the history buffs or McQueen fans in your life (or use it to prove it’s one of the best movies ever made, as my husband did).
Connect
You can connect with The Great Escape on Fox Connect
You can connect with The Great Escape on Fox Connect
Buy It
You can purchase the 50th Anniversary edition of The Great Escape on Fox Connect for $12.99
I received products, free of charge, to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own and/or families. Take it or leave it. Click here to view the whole disclosure policy.
