Great enough for its time attracting some misplaced criticism

Rating: 8/10 (30 November 2008)

This film is of its era and given the Hollywood makeover to be expected of the time and, by today's standards, is a little weak on gritty realism. Yet is has far more accuracy to the real story than is given credit and remains an entertaining romp with a great cast, many displaying very subtle realistic traits of behaviour. Most of the characters are true to real people or are composite representations of such people. Many of the negative comments here pick on rather trite issues and often present so called factual errors that are wrong themselves such as: 1 The prisoners wearing uniforms rather than overalls - they did wear uniforms. 2. The apparent relaxed atmosphere of the "Nazi" camp - not all camps were Auschwitz for goodness sake and the Luftwaffe camps were noted for having remarkably better conditions and allowed plenty of leisure activities and scope for the cleanliness observed (food supplies as in many camps was sporadic but not severe until close to the war's end) 3. The fact that Coburn, Bronson and Garner were included for a American audience (alongside McQueen) playing commonwealth servicemen - only Garner portrayed a "commonwealth" serviceman, and did it rather well, as the Aussie. Garner was a US member of the RAF's Eagle Squadron and Bronson was from Poland Furthermore while no Americans escaped many did in fact work on the tunnels, Bronson's character was principally based on a Canadian who was transferred prior to the escape but artistic licence is OK.