Yes, it’s true! I have somehow managed to avoid watching in its entirety the film that is on every Christmas! THE GREAT ESCAPE tells the true story of British and American POWs who concoct a fantastically complicated escape plan.
The film is endearingly straight forward, you can imagine a modern re-make of THE GREAT ESCAPE involving over-the-top action. This tells the true story in a simple way in order to make you realise just how genius their plan really was. It also doesn’t shy away from the real outcome of those who tried to escape.
The cast including Richard Attenborough, James Garner, Donald Pleasence, Charles Bronson, and of course, Steve McQueen, all give great performances. Although, it is fairly obvious that the American cast were included to attract an American audience. Steve McQueen, despite being thoroughly entertaining, feels a bit out of place at some points.
If a film has an interesting story, all it has to do is tell it. This is what THE GREAT ESCAPE does, it shows how hundreds of prisoners worked together to create a series of tunnels underneath the prison camp and out towards the trees. Chances are if you have not seen this film, then you at least know the real-life story behind it and what happened to most of the escaped men.
Overall, if you like movies about WWII, THE GREAT ESCAPE is a good example of telling a real life story without it seeming like a ridiculous ‘movie’ version of the events. The story is interesting, the acting is great, and the plot moves at a good pace and there are a few comedic moments throughout it.
