Review of The Great Escape (1963) by Steve F — 31 Dec 2008

A terrific war film boasting an all-star cast from director John Sturges, The Great Escape remains as entertaining, moving, and thrilling now as when it was first released in 1963.

Nearly every scene is a classic, as the American and British prisoners of war plot to escape from their camp using three tunnels they have dug named Tom, Dick, and Harry. Among the potential escapees: Richard Attenborough and Gordon Jackson are two of the British stiff upper lips planning the getaway; Charles Bronson, the tunneler afraid of enclosed spaces; Donald Pleasance, the forger with the diminishing eyesight; James Garner, the man who can scrounge just about anything from the guards and fellow prisoners; and, of course, Steve McQueen as Hilts, a seasoned escapee dubbed "the cooler king" following his solitary confinement every time his escape attempts fail and he is recaptured.

An epic much like Sturges's previous picture The Magnificent Seven (three of that film's cast also appear here: McQueen, Bronson, and James Coburn), this heroic adventure, based on the novel by Paul Brickhill, is backed by a memorable score by Elmer Bernstein that beautifully punctuates every fantastic moment.