Cast: Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough

Director: John Sturges

Screenplay: W. R. Burnett

Genre: Action/Adventure/War

Running time: 2 hrs 57 mins



CRITIQUE:


For a World War II film, THE GREAT ESCAPE is essential. A true story about a plethora of men, all British, American and Canadian prisoners-of-war in the Nazi-occupied Germany, embark on a plan of escape, both successfully and tragically, making them unsung heroes that had defied the enemy and crossing the lines towards freedom. It’s a symbolic bravura, and so is the film, which handles the material with such joviality you wouldn’t believe it’s actually a war film. There is humour and playfulness with John Sturgess’s vision of this original prison break that it never plunges into morose seriousness, and captivates audience with its entertaining mood. In short, it’s a serious story taken not so seriously.


So it lives up with its brand of genre, an action-slash-adventure, and it makes this one of the greatest prison break movies of all-time, if not the greatest. Your PRISON BREAK and ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ have their own granddad and THE GREAT ESCAPE it is. From the brilliantly-staged escape plans, the silly tunnel plots with uncountable accomplices, it seems as though the whole camp is involved except the guards, to the finale filled with adrenaline. It can be called one of the best popcorn movies, too. And who could ever forget Steve


McQueen’s memorable and legendary motorbike dash around the panoramic German countryside, with Nazi officers hot on his heels, or wheels rather. McQueen makes his own stunts and goes down to cinema history books for it. This finale alone is worth seeing, compensating the slightly weak first half.


VERDICT:

The title suggests this film to be great, and it is. Its last half covers the oftentimes unedurable longeur and slightly weak first half; it remains to be a great escape movie, with flaws. This is a kind of film your grandad would endlessly talk about during tea-time.



RATING: A-