Rating: 
Summary: 250 men just walking down the street? You're crazy!
Review: That is the plot in the nutshell. 250 men planning to escape from German WWII camp. This movie has stars Steve McQueen, James Coburn, and Charles Bronson. John Sturges directs and Elmer Bernstein composes. If this sounds familar, its because you have seen Sturge's "The Magnificent Seven". Like "Seven", the Great Escape was sorely missed from AFI's top 100. They were later included in the top 100 thriller movies with Great Escape coming in at #20.
Here's the bad news. Its widescreen, but its not anamorphic. In other words, the movie is trapped in darkness even on an enhanced tv. Also there is no commentary, which is a shame.
Despite these techincal flaws, this three hour epic is enjoyable. James Garner, James, Donald, Richard Attenbourgh, Donald Pleasance and David McCallum also star. (Trivia: the latter two appeared in The Greatest Story Ever Told as Satan and Judas!)Sorry, no girls allowed in this film. This a man only film. Sturges carefully crafts it that each man is an unique individual who works with the team. You can see the competition going on in their acting which brings out the best of them.
The blend of American film stars and British stage actors is fabalous.
Elmer Bernstein, once again delivers a rememarkable score that you will be whistling when you finish watching the movie.
Favorite scenes: Charles Bronson crying in the dark tunnel, the 4th of July celebration, the river scence, and of course Steve McQueen's motorcycle chase! Steve agreed to do the film only if he had a bike chase. The result: the wisest choice in script rewriting creating a great climax.
Features include a documentary and a little booklet.
Highly resommended!
Rating:
Summary: Classic war/prison film packs a punch with fantastic cast
Review: A Hollywood classic WWII film. One look at the all-star cast, many of whom were just getting started (Steve McQueen, James Garner, James Coburn, Charles Bronson, David McCallum), as well as the veterans, Richard Attenborough, James Donald, Donald Pleasance, and you know what you're in for: intellectual puzzles and gripping action. A concentration camp film that focuses on the intimate foibles of the characters, which will ultimately determine the outcome of this historic prison break from what was thought to be an "inescapable" prison, The Great Escape is at times funny, at times heart-breaking, and often flat-out breathtaking. Great writing, great characters, great action (McQueen's legendary motorcycle chase is hard to top, even by today's effects-laden standards, and McQueen did his own stunts), and an unforgettable score by the inimitable Elmer "Magnificent Seven" Bernstein. Nothing is overplayed for sentiment or war-mongering, as is so popular with today's resurgence of war films. The film maintains a realistic tone throughout, from camerawork, to sets, to costumes. Of the 70-some prisoners who escaped, only four made it to freedom, most of the rest were captured and executed. Yet this fact is attributed to the human will to resist tyrany, and not put in the context of war, thus making it a larger theme than merely "war is hell" or "everyone goes home." Hollywood should take a lesson from past war films like this, and Bridge on the River Kwai. Sadly, they don't make them like this anymore.
Rating:
Summary: A great DVD of a great movie
Review: I own this one since months ago. It's the same as the european Special Edition. I wonder what took MGM so long as to release this in the USA as well. Well, not it has happened. The movie itself is a great piece of Cinema. The all great cast is magnificent. Every actor a unique personality.
The DVD offers a great deal on background info, along with documentaries that deal with the historical background and the production at Germany's Bavaria Film Studios. If you don't own this, then go and get it, because this is something that will increase the Value of your DVD collection a lot. I love this movie and can recommend this DVD not enough. Best Regards
Rating:
Summary: Classic that will never die
Review: The Great Escape is a movie that will stand above the rest until the end of time. It focuses in on a group of British and American prisoners of war (POW) that are under confines in a Nazi Germany Prison Camp. The group plans an escpe through underground tunneling from their three bunks. Only comparable to Staglag 17, this film grabs you and causes one to become attached to the characters both before and after the escape. Probably not realistic in the sence of how the officers in charge of the camp are so leeniant, but realistic about what happens when prisoners cross "the line" and how repeat escape offenders are delt with. Filmed in europe, the landsspe is a beautiful backdrop to the story that unfolds. Famous for it's characters and scenes like Steve McQueen's mortorcycle chase,and the segments in "the cooler," this movie is a must-have for any collection. Stupendous cast with: Steve McQueen ( Bullet, Papillon, The Blob ), James Coburn ( The Magnificent Seven, Affliction ), James Garner ( Maverick, Support Your Local Sheriff, Support Your Local Gunfighter ) , Charles Bronson ( The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, Death Wish ), and Richard Attenborough ( Chaplin, Jurrasic Park, Elizabeth ). The dvd itself is nice because it plays the near-3 hour movie all on one side, unlike others which inlude new released dvd's like Ben Hur. Aside from the fascinating documentary, the dvd lacks special features, but remember that most movies released in 1963 would have trouble locating what is standard for new movies on dvd, like deleated scenes.
Rating:
Summary: Saw an advance copy and WOW what a set
Review: The jewel in the crown of all the releases timed to coincide with Memorial Day 2004 is undoubtedly MGM's special 2-disc collectors edition of the classic 1960s war movie "The Great Escape."
Previously released as a one-disc edition, MGM has finally given this movie the treatment it deserves with a great transfer and a generous selection of special features that will simply blow you away.
Using the same team that were responsible for the "Die Another Day" DVD last year the first disc features a fairly lively and informative audio commentary with a narrator and edited comments from the cast and crew. In addition a "Pop-up Video" style trivia track that includes odd pieces of information that the viewer may (or more than likely not) be interested in.
The second disc in the set is where this edition really takes top marks. Perhaps the real prize is an hour-long British television documentary titled "The Great Escape: The Untold Story" which traces the true events both in the escape and truth and trial behind one of the most unspeakable war crimes committed by the Nazi's following the break-out. The documentary is truly fascinating and very informative.
Also featured is a documentary that originally appeared on the History Channel. Narrated by Burt Reynolds it looks closely at the making of the movie and is broken up into several small featurettes on different aspects of the production.
An oddity on the second disc is a feature on a man who (according to Director John Sturgis) was the inspiration for the Steve McQueen character in the movie. As many people are aware no Americans were part of the actual escape in 1944. The producers added American characters to the movie to make it more marketable in the USA.
For completion purposes more than anything else the disc also includes the documentary "Return to The Great Escape" that appeared on the initial DVD release. Featuring interviews with the stars and production team it is fairly short but still enjoyable.
All in all, MGM has finally done this movie proud. With a better transfer and some truly amazing special features this is collection the studio can be proud of.
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Escape film
Review: After getting a region 2 double disc edition of this amsterpiece to see what all the fuyss is about, I have come to a conclusion -They dont make films like this anymore and I previously thought they never did. Steve McQueen real is the cooler kning and Richartd Attenbourgh really did have a career before Jurassic park. Although its a true story, it seems unlikely that the Germens would place some of the worlds greatest escape artists in the same prison camp. Whats so good about this movie? James Garner's scrounger is a wonderful character, as is Charles Bronson's Tunnel King. But the feeling of sorrow for Blythe (The Forger, Donald Pleasence) is enormous as he gradually goes blind. It shows how good an actor the ultimate Blofield is. Spare a thought for John Sturgess, the director of two classics - this and The magnificent 7 and is rarely featured in Top 10 director polls. Overall there is not a bad word to say about this - James COburbns accent.
Rating:
Summary: THE MOVIE WAS GREAT!
Review: I would grade this movie a 5 out of 5 stars its just a great movie over all. It's noefiction movie. The best parts where probley the middle and towards the end.
Rating:
Summary: An epic adventure, filled with some great extras!
Review: I've always felt this film was a Hollywood response to Bridge Over the River Kwai. Same upbeat marching music, same story of men fighting to keep their dignity in captivity. Both even have their own somewhat downbeat endings. That said, The Great Escape is a fine Hollywood film, about as good as it gets for an epic. This edition has two features that really took me back. The first is a text commentary/fact track that gives wonderful insights into the film and the history. The second is a documentary on the man who inspired the character of Steve McQueen - a guy named, of all things, Davy Jones. His story is as amazing as the story of the film. He flew on the Doolittle Raid - the first bombing run on Tokyo after Pearl Harbor. He was shot down over North Africa and brought to a prison camp in Poland/Germany. He dug tunnels, but was moved before the escape. He was liberated by Patton, returned to flying for the Air Force, became a NATO commander, and was in the control room, he claims, when Apollo 11 lifted off and when man walked on the moon. This was an emotional short documentary. There are other docs, including a very good documentary on the making of the film from the early 1990s. A wonderful DVD experience. If you can't see this movie on a huge screen, then this DVD set is the next best substitute. And if you want to know more about the kind of men who won World War II, well the extras on this DVD give this movie a great historical weight.
Rating:
Summary: One of the all-time great war movies
Review: The Great Escape is a great WWII POW movie that should not be missed by movie fans. In 1944, 600 Allied prisoners of war took part in one of the largest mass escapes from a prison camp. The Luftwaffe, the German Air Force, has brought all the notable escapees in their possession to Stalag Luft III, a "perfect, inescapable" prison camp. The X Organization(the escape committee, begins their efforts to escape by digging three tunnels, Tom, Dick, and Harry. The movie follows all their efforts to escape including digging the tunnels, forging documents, blackmailing the guards, and making clothers for all the escapees. The last hour follows the prisoners who escaped from camp and then the murder of fifty of them. The Great Escape is a truly great movie that blends adventure, action, and suspense seamlessly. Also worth mentioning is Elmer Bernstein's now famous score for the movie which is instantly recognizable. This is a great movie based on a true story that should not be missed. The Great Escape boasts a truly impressive cast. Steve McQueen became a star because of his performance as Hilts, the Cooler King, who refused to be broken by his German captors. His motorcycle chase and the famous jump over the barbed wire fence is one of the high points of the movie. James Garner stars as Hendley, the scrounger. Richard Attenborough is also excellent as Roger Bartlett, Big X, the head of the X organization. The impressive cast includes James Coburn as Sedgwick, Charles Bronson as Danny, James Donald as Ramsey, Donald Pleasence as Colin, Gordon Jackson as Mac, David McCallum as Ashley-Pitt, Angus Lennie as Ives, and many more. The 2-Disc Collector's Set is well worth the purchase. Disc One includes the widescreen presentation of the movie, cast and crew commentary, and a trivia track. Disc Two includes the History Channel's "History vs. Hollywoood" cut up into four featurettes, The Great Escape: The Untold Story(a documentary about the actual escape in 1944), Return to the Great Escape( a making of documentary, a theatrical trailer and an extensive photo gallery. For one of the best war movies ever made and one of my all-time favorites, check out The Great Escape 2-Disc Collector's Set!
Rating:
Summary: A great film, well acted, based on fact
Review:
Studio: Mgm/Ua Studios
Video Release Date: November 13, 2001
Cast: Steve McQueen ... Capt. Virgil 'The Cooler King' Hilts
James Garner ... Flight Lt. Bob Anthony 'The Scrounger' Hendley
Richard Attenborough ... Squadron Leader Roger 'Big X' Bartlett
James Donald ... Group Capt. Rupert 'The SBO' Ramsey
Charles Bronson ... Flight. Lt. Danny 'The Tunnel King' Velinski
Donald Pleasence ... Flight Lt. Colin 'The Forger' Blythe
James Coburn ... Flying Officer Louis 'The Manufacturer' Sedgwick
Hannes Messemer ... Col. von Luger (prison commandant)
David McCallum ... Lt. Cmdr. Eric 'Dispersal' Ashley-Pitt
Gordon Jackson ... Flight Lt. Andy MacDonald (Intelligence)
John Leyton ... Flight Lt. William 'The Tunneller' Dickes
Angus Lennie ... Flying Officer Archibald 'The Mole' Ives
Nigel Stock ... Flight Lt. Denys 'The Surveyor' Cavendish
Robert Graf ... Werner 'The Ferret'
Jud Taylor ... Goff
Hans Reiser ... Herr Kuhn
Harry Riebauer ... German Sgt. Strachwitz
William Russell ... Sorren
Robert Freitag ... Capt. Posen
Ulrich Beiger ... Preissen
George Mikell ... Lt. Dietrich
Lawrence Montaigne ... Hayes ('Diversions')
Robert Desmond ... Griffith 'Tailor'
Til Kiwe ... Frick
Heinz Weiss ... Kramer
Tom Adams ... Dai Nimmo ('Diversions')
Karl-Otto Alberty ... Steinach (German officer) I viewed this one again last night, and again was riveted to me seat. I can find no fault with this film. The cast is great, act their parts well, and history has written a great plot. Both the German and Japanese prison camps were known for their brutality and harsh treatment of prisoners. I knew a former war prisoner in Japan (I was stationed with him in the occupation, there shortly after the war). He hated the Japanese, and had been held near where we were stationed, at Naval Air Station (NAS) Atsugi, only five years earlier. Perhaps he got over it--many did, apparently. In Japan, there was no escape, with 10,000 miles of ocean between us and home, but in Germany, many did successfully escape, and some returned to drop more bombs on their former captors. It is the duty of prisoners (theirs and ours) to escape if possible, and to harass their captors as much as possible, forcing them to use more personnel to contain and control them--thus taking men away from combat duties (Frank Sinatra in Von Ryan's Express to the contrary notwithstanding). There is both humor and pathos in this story. In my opinion, it is definitely one of the better films to come out of that war. It's hard for me to believe that the events portrayed are over sixty years in the past. When I was in my teens, the First World War was just over twenty years past, and yet it seemed like ancient history to me. But after over six decades, the Second World War seems like yesterday. Until I realize, suddenly, that to young people of today it is as meaningless as discussing the Civil War. It is history. Joseph (Joe) Pierre, USN (Ret)
author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books
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