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      The Great Escape

      Now Playing 2 hr. 52 min. War Drama List
      94% 54 Reviews Tomatometer 95% 100,000+ Ratings Audience Score Imprisoned during World War II in a German POW camp, a group of Allied soldiers are intent on breaking out, not only to escape, but also to draw Nazi forces away from battle to search for fugitives. Among the prisoners determined to escape are American Captain Virgil Hilts (Steve McQueen) and British Squadron Leader Roger Bartlett (Richard Attenborough). Outwitting their captors by digging a tunnel out of the prison grounds, the soldiers find the stakes much higher when escape becomes a reality. Read More Read Less Now in Theaters Now Playing Buy Tickets

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      The Great Escape

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      The Great Escape

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      Critics Consensus

      With its impeccably slow-building story and a cast for the ages, The Great Escape is an all-time action classic.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Michael S So great to see it again. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/09/22 Full Review Dean S I have lost count of the times I have seen this movie but has to be one of the greatest WW2 films of all time. Such an amazing cast of actors that come together to tell this incredible story. Steve McQueen and his motorcycle is just so iconic but it's backed up by some career best performances by some of the great actors of the 20th Century. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/25/24 Full Review Clare O Seen it about 5 times, still love it and find things to enjoy and think about. Honestly, a near perfect film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/28/23 Full Review dlma1 M Wow, what a great cast including Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Donald Pleasance, Charles Bronson, David McCallum, and Hannes Messemer. Based on a true story of a mass escape of prisoners from a German Stalag in 1944, it is still fascinating watching the prisoners plot to escape. And, of course, there is that fantastic motorcycle chase with Steve McQueen (that didn't really happen - McQueen insisted that he had to be able to showcase his motorcycle skills or he wouldn't do the film!). Other characters were composites, but the main part of the story is close to the real events, and they used a real survivor of the camp as a technical consultant. And Donald Pleasance was eminently qualified to be POW since he was one in real life! He did say in an interview that prisoners were not as rude to heavily armed guards as in the movie - I think I would be polite to a guy with a Schmeiser submachine gun too! A great film that is definitely worth re-watching (or for the first time, if by some chance you never saw it!) Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/22/23 Full Review DanTheMan 2 From delightfully hilarious to unjustly cruel, The Great Escape is an all-time classic of cinema for a reason. Spectacularly entertaining it serves as a rousing ode to the determination, camaraderie and courage of everyday heroes. The truth behind the tale only adds to that sheer level of excitement while marvelling at the ingenuity and seemingly unbreakable spirit of imprisoned soldiers. For all its moments of terror and tragedy, is to delight in captivity in times of war as a wonderful game for boys, an endless Houdini challenge to slip through the enemy's fingers. Topped by its amazing all-star cast of loveable greats, the expert direction of John Sturges, eminently hummable Elmer Bernstein score, and rip-roaring stunts, The Great Escape is simply great escapism. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/09/23 Full Review Sahooon C This is a classic film. Amazingly based on and pretty accurately portrays a true story. Thanks to it being a 60s film the amount of practical shots make it a master piece. It's definitely not for everyone but if you like true stories and war time stuff you'll like this one Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Great Escape

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (54) Critics Reviews
      Wendy Ide Times (UK) This star-laden real-life tale of teamwork and derring-do is a trifle flabby at nearly three hours, but there is no denying that this is one of the best loved of all Second World War films. Dec 27, 2023 Full Review Jamie Ludwig Chicago Reader For all its missteps, when it comes to escapism, intrigue, and indulgence, you could do a whole lot worse than The Great Escape. Just watch it with an open eye. Feb 21, 2019 Full Review Anthony Lane New Yorker This is a Boys' Own Tale, and, as boys, we wanted it, cleansed of horrors, for ourselves. Apr 23, 2014 Full Review Olly Richards Sunday Times (UK) Steve McQueen turns his movie-star glint to maximum as the swaggering American Cooler King... Sep 19, 2022 Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Even though the filmmakers make changes to benefit an American audience, the memory of the 50 executed airmen will never be forgotten. Rated: 5/5 May 29, 2022 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Somehow, The Great Escape manages to mourn the dead and uphold a unified sense of defiance in the same movement. Rated: 4/4 Feb 17, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Imprisoned during World War II in a German POW camp, a group of Allied soldiers are intent on breaking out, not only to escape, but also to draw Nazi forces away from battle to search for fugitives. Among the prisoners determined to escape are American Captain Virgil Hilts (Steve McQueen) and British Squadron Leader Roger Bartlett (Richard Attenborough). Outwitting their captors by digging a tunnel out of the prison grounds, the soldiers find the stakes much higher when escape becomes a reality.
      Director
      John Sturges
      Screenwriter
      Paul Brickhill, James Clavell, W. R. Burnett
      Distributor
      United Artists, Criterion Collection, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
      Production Co
      Mirisch Company
      Genre
      War, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jul 4, 1963, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Nov 30, 2016
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