'Hilts' "The Cooler King"

Rating: Null/10 (22 February 2012)

This not a review as much. I have read two books and watched a PBS Documentary on "The Great Escape". My focus is on Steve McQueen's portrayal of 'Hilt' "The Cooler King". The 1st book I read on this wonderful story was a little known accurate account biography written by Colonel Jerry Sage titled "SAGE". It is by all accounts the factual story of Col. Sage that McQueen portrayed as Capt. Hilt in the film. For dramatics the motorcycle jump of that barbed wire fence never happened but hey, that's Hollywood. I am privileged to know the niece of the late Col. Sage. The 2nd book was the popular Paul Brickhill tale. The PBS documentary of the "GREAT ESCAPE" blew me away. At the filming there were I believe 3 surviving men and when they found the actual tunnels after days of digging two of the items found were the bellows they manufactured for oxygen and get this, the belt buckle of one of surviving witnesses. I hope to locate this film again. Thank you Pvt Wm. J. E. U.S.M.C. Ret.