The Great Escape (1963)

The Great Escape (1963) is a classic, based on a true World War II story, about a large group of Allied airmen held in a supposedly "escape-proof" German POW camp who combine their skills, patience and daring to pull off an audacious mass breakout. Led by a determined officer, the prisoners secretly dig multiple tunnels, forge documents and organize disguises and routes — the film shifts from wry, often comic scenes of camp life and clever sabotage to tense, high-stakes sequences as the escape unfolds and the fugitives attempt to slip back into occupied Europe. If you watch it you’ll get a mix of moods and filmmaking pleasures: sharp ensemble performances and dry humor in the camp’s everyday routines; riveting, claustrophobic tension during the tunnel work; and thrilling, suspenseful adventure as escapees use trains, trucks, boats and false papers to flee while a relentless manhunt closes in. Expect camaraderie, ingenuity, suspenseful set pieces, wartime atmosphere and moments of real poignancy — a sweeping, emotionally charged story of courage, sacrifice and the cost of freedom.

Actors: Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough

Director: John Sturges

Runtime: 172 min

Genres: Adventure, Drama, History

8.2 /10 86 /100 8.2 /10 8.3 /10