A Masterclass Of A War Movie: Probably A "Boys Own" Tale

Rating: 9/10 (31 July 2012)

Men like this film - I know - A (male) friend mentioned it to me and I found myself immediately singing "that theme tune" ... You know the one.
Heck.. I'm a huge fan of Bronson and Richard Attenborough - Here, I think both men turn in some of their best performances. They don't have to work too hard - The script is well-paced, believable and engaging. A strong supporting cast does no harm either... It amounts to a roll-call of some of our finest European and American actors.
If there are weaknesses in this movie, I'm hard-pressed to find any. You'll be glued to the screen as we're drawn into the strangely claustrophobic world of capable soldiers dealing with enforced incarceration.
Each man is assigned a function and that function gives him something to live for. It's a deeply psychological piece, often moving and portrays the courageous spirit of men determined not to endure the fascist "jack boot".
These Nazi camps really did exist and (at their worst) became the monstrosities of Auschwitz, Birkenau and the like. This film only hints at that... Since many escapees are (finally) executed in cold blood.
But overall, I think, Great Escape is not about the Holocaust. It's about men who found ways to survive it. I think that's important and its a powerful message underpinning a fabulous film.