Entertaining, but superficial...

Rating: 6/10 (11 January 2004)

This film is well constructed and fun, but like other John Sturges films (ie: Magnificent Seven), there's never a sense that these characters are in any real danger. This may be fine for a Speilberg/Lucas action vehicle, but these events took place in a POW camp--no laughing matter.

The one scene that truly turned me off was when Steve McQueen 'pick pocketed' the keys for the prison door from the German guard. When he smugly returns them to the guard, the soundtrack is polluted with appropriate 'whimsical' music.
This film does not live up to its legend. Watch 'Escape from Alkatraz instead.
6/10