Now sewn into the fabric of Christmas viewing, as well as having a theme that has become the patriotic call for England supporters whenever the national soccer side plays, THE GREAT ESCAPE is one of three movies that cemented legend Steve McQueen into Hollywood folklore.
Three years earlier, director John Sturges had directed McQueen in THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s THE SEVEN SAMURAI, which was subsequently made twice, firstly as a sci-fi cult classic starring Richard Thomas and George Peppard, BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS (1980) and then in the more recent Ethan Hawke / Denzel Washington version.
It was one of the biggest all-star casts at that time and was filmed on location in Germany in a purpose-built camp set. The film was based on a real-life escape attempt which was chronicled in a book by one of the prisoners, Paul Brickhill, who allegedly was not part of the actual attempt. The screenplay was co-adapted by SHOGUN novelist James Clavell with W.R. Burnett.
It’s the height of the Second World War and the cream of Allied soldiers who have the most escape attempts are put together in a heightened security prison camp. Among them are Hilts (Steve McQueen), Henley (James Garner) and Willie (Charles Bronson). Arriving just after the others is Roger ‘X’ Bartlett (Richard Attenborough) who decides to mount the most audacious plan ever – to spring the entire camp of 250 prisoners through a tunnel from the camp into the woods.
Using a cleverly-orchestrated system of security and activity to fool the German soldiers guarding them, they become determined to make the escape, but the moment of truth draws near….
Most people already know the plot and the pay-offs of THE GREAT ESCAPE – and this review is not designed to add anything to it, merely to comment on the sheer quality of the performances, the screenplay and the fact that at nearly three hours long, it is one of the most pacy films at that length ever-made, which is rare in a film these days, as sometimes we find ourselves shifting in our seat and wondering if it is going to end.
The film is split into two halves, the camp and the escape and nothing keeps you wandering as you watch, as you are rooting for everyone in the camp to escape. The second half of the film has passed into folklore, with McQueen’s motorcycle exploits the stuff of legend, particularly as he makes his attempt to reach freedom, but very few films can claim to have the level of multiplied drama and cross cutting of character arcs as THE GREAT ESCAPE has.
Whilst the theme is the most familiar and often hummed by many, the overall soundtrack by Elmer Bernstein has so much more to offer than the theme and along with THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN soundtrack is a must-have for your collection.