The Great Escape

Rating: 10/10 (7 September 2005)

This is best known as one of everyone's favourite war films, not just for the actors but the thought of hope and escape, based on a true story. It is basically all about prisoners in a German PoW (Prisoner of War) camp trying everything they can to escape, e.g. hiding in trucks with trees in them, dressing as Russians being released, and many other attempts. Then everyone has the idea of a tunnel, but to make certain they can still escape, they make three tunnels in different locations with different names. Eventually after long hours of digging, keeping quiet, and diversions, they do manage to succeed in getting at least 70 men out, but some are killed, and the ending is a very amusing one. Starring Steve McQueen as Capt. Virgil 'The Cooler King' Hilts (most of the motorbike sequence is really him), James Garner as Flight Lt. Bob Anthony 'The Scrounger' Hendley, Lord Sir Richard Attenborough as Squadron Leader Roger 'Big X' Bartlett, James Donald as Group Capt. Rupert 'The SBO' Ramsey, Charles Bronson as Flight. Lt. Danny 'The Tunnel King' Velinski, Donald Pleasence as Flight Lt. Colin 'The Forger' Blythe, James Coburn as Flying Officer Louis 'The Manufacturer' Sedgwick and Gordon Jackson as Flight Lt. Sandy MacDonald (Intelligence). It was nominated for the Oscar for Best Film Editing, and it was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Drama . Steve McQueen was number 14 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, he was number 49 on The 100 Greatest Sex Symbols, he was number 62 on The 100 Greatest Pop Culture Icons, and he was number 43 on The World's Greatest Actor, Lord Sir Richard Attenborough was number 34 on The 50 Greatest British Actors, the film was number 19 on 100 Years, 100 Thrills, it was number 53 on The 100 Greatest Family Films (although the list may be confused with Bean), it was number 3 on The 100 Greatest War Films, and it was number 39 on The 100 Greatest Films. Outstanding!