It's World War II and escape from army camps is a full time occupation. All the great escape artists somehow end up in a camp together and plan the biggest bust ever. Each character has a function - scrounger, forger etc. and, inspite of inevitable hicc
by Ian Nathan |
Published on
Running Time:
169 minutes
Certificate:
PG
Original Title:
Great Escape: Special Edition, The
So you can name Horst Buchholz and Brad Dexter from The Magnificent Seven, but how far down The Great Escape's ensemble of sturdy machismo star power do you reach?
Familiar as grandad's tea time lectures it might be, but this World War II extravaganza always rewards the return. There's Richard Attenborough's unsung excellence as Big X devising the whole plan, the remarkably human portrayal of the German guards, and the subtle precision of its structure.
For all the escapees, director John Sturges devised a different means of transport - bicycle, boat, train and plane. Steve McQueen went by motorbike, but you probably remember that. It's impossible to tire of.
Familiar as grandad's tea time lectures it might be, but this World War II extravaganza always rewards the return.
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