Works for me!

Rating: 9/10 (9 January 2009)

I first saw TGE as an eight year old boy in the Bronx. Key was the very wide screen; the way this film should be viewed. Steve McQueen was larger than life on that motorcycle and certainly influenced many young men of the time. Motorcycle, haircut, sweatshirt or ball off the wall. To this then eight year old, Virgil Hilts was a hit and the center of the movie and the escape. Since that time I have seen the movie a half dozen times on television and recently on DVD. Post 1963 we had Steve and Attenborough together again in my favorite McQueen movie- The Sand Pebbles. I have seen all of Steve's later efforts and even went to the earlier POW film- Stalag 17.
Looking at TGE as an adult I see the themes of duty, loyalty, friendship & sacrifice. These to me are the takeaway and not the motorcycle action and the countryside, enjoyable as it is. James Garner's performance is perhaps under-appreciated and his relationship with The Forger/Donald Plesence is fascinating.
I definitely recommend the movie and encourage viewers to look not just at McQueen's performance, but to the host of excellent performances by the above and everybody.
"Your German is quite good".