Digging the way out to freedom

Rating: 10/10 (14 March 2009)

German POW camp during the Second World War.A group of Allied plan to escape the camp by digging a tunnel.The plan is to get 250 men out.Eventually 76 of them get out to freedom, only three remain that way.This movie is based on a true story.Sure there are some things, including the names, changed to this movie, but the details of the escape are all true.It's directed by John Sturges and it's based on the book Paul Brickhill wrote of his experiences.The actors couldn't be more perfect.There are lots of superstars, and some of them raised to stardom after this movie.Steve McQueen plays the part of Capt. Virgil Hilts, also known as the Cooler King.James Garner is Flight Lt. Anthony Hendley "The Scrounger".Richard Attenborough is Squadron Leader Roger Bartlett "Big X".This was his first appearance in a major Hollywood film blockbuster of this now 85-year old English actor, who has also had a worthy career as a director.James Donald is Group Capt. Ramsey "The SBO".Charles Bronson plays the part of Flight Lt. Danny Velinski "The Tunnel King", who happens to suffer a bit of claustrophobia.Donald Pleasence plays one of the most sympathetic characters, Flight Lt. Colin Blythe "The Forger".He experiences some dramatic moments when he notices he's starting to lose his sight.James Coburn plays Flying Officer Louis Sedgvick "The Manufacturer".David McCallum is Lt.Cmdr. Eric Ashley-Pitt "Dispersal".John Leyton is Flight Lt. William Dickes "The Tunneler".Angus Lennie is Flying Officer Archibald Ives "The Mole".Nigel Stock is Flight Lt. Denys Cavendish "The Surveyor".Robert Graf, who was suffering from cancer during this movie, plays Werner "The Ferret".Jud Taylor is Goff.This movie has lots of memorable moments.One of the coolest moments of the movie is the motorcycle escape by McQueen's character Hilts.It's been said that McQueen wouldn't have made this picture if he couldn't have shown his motorcycle skills.Of course that didn't actually happen during the real escape, but it does look good on film.It's heartwarming to watch Garner's character Hendley helping Pleasence's character Blythe.Eventually they get on an airplane.The moments in the tunnel set the claustrophobic mood.I saw this movie for the first time on 23th of December in 1994.This week I saw it again.A classic never loses its value.