The Great Escape (1963)
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Videos & Photos
- Special Ed. DVD pre (00:50)
- Trailer for The Great Escape (02:41)
Movie Info & Cast
Synopsis
Allied officers in a German POW camp during World War II make a daring plan for a mass escape.
Cast
- Steve McQueen
- James Garner
- Richard Attenborough
- Charles Bronson
- James Donald
- Donald Pleasence
- James Coburn
- David McCallum
- Gordon Jackson
- John Leyton
Letterboxd User Reviews
4.2
260.4K
81.1K
68.2K
- Feb 16, 2022
Many of my favorite movies are about how being behind enemy lines during World War 2 would have been fun and the essential class vs swag dichotomy between British and American officers. What a cast. What a picture.
Will MenakerJun 12, 2024I had only seen the Steve McQueen motorcycle scene before, and I’d seen that dozens of times because whenever that part was on TV my dad would call me in to watch it. Now that I’ve finally seen the whole thing, Dad why didn’t you get me to watch the rest?! The whole thing…
Patrick WillemsAug 20, 2018This escape did not go as great as advertised!
Sara Clements - Jan 27, 2023
The ultimate dad film
HankAug 29, 2013One of the classic procedure films, war films, ensemble films, adventure films, suspense films, quotable films, you name it, The Great Escape is probably all these things and more. It's also a period film, beautifully detailed and accurate. The simplicity of locations and…
Colin the dudeJun 10, 2023“Meanwhile, we dig.” Lean, Ford, Spielberg, Wyler and Kurosawa stand tall among directors who understood the ephemeral essence of camaraderie and group dynamics; how they can never be felt as deeply or expressed as efficiently as they can be through a single composition.…
Christopher McQuarrie - Apr 24, 2025
A great movie about the human pursuit of freedom! It’s a bit glorified like many old American movies, but that’s a part of its charm!
XfaxeAug 2, 2019Teamwork makes the dream work
ScreeningNotesAug 5, 2019Sturges' unpretentious and ruthless economy aimed squarely at a sprawling caper film. Maybe his best movie.
matt lynch
Queue Community Reviews
95%
Community 2,996
Top Reviews
- Sabrina Bondi likedThe Great Escape
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.
lainey lovedThe Great Escapei really loved the themes in this. persevering and resisting tyranny by keeping in touch with the whimsical parts of yourself. the importance of community and making sacrifices for the good of others less fortunate than you. our duty to be non-compliant, especially when they try to make you as…
Nick Dubberly likedThe Great EscapeI did enjoy this film. It didn’t hurt that almost half of The Magnificent Seven stared in this film! I wish they would have had text at the end to mention what became of the prisoners that actually survived the escape! Overall a solid escape film that I enjoyed watching.
- Henry lovedThe Great Escape
The Great Escape is a gripping wartime classic, with a compelling story and well-developed, multidimensional characters. The film’s gritty realism powerfully portrays the struggles of captivity during the war, making it a true masterpiece. Rating: H- 10/10, L- 8/10
Angie Lankford is "meh" onThe Great EscapeI had always heard what a great movie this was, so after years of disregarding it, I finally sat and watched it. I must say, I was left feeling very underwhelmed. The cast is great, but the tone and score are far too upbeat for the based-on-a-true-story WWII film.
Kevin likedThe Great Escape8/10 - Great movie! Great cast, great characters and great story. You felt like you knew every single character and wanted them all to escape and get back to their families. Steve McQueen was very cool indeed. The fact that it is a true story is crazy.
- James New lovedThe Great Escape
Absolute classic and definitely top 3 prison escape films. One of The best scores out of any film I’ve watched so far this years, everyone will recognise it. Action is amazing, and the sets/costuming is very realistic and engrossing. Very fun film
Kazi likedThe Great Escapeofficers tunneling out of a POW camp. starts off light hearted when all these allied soldiers meet but over time the strain and stress of escaping tests their determination and hope. great music score, and charming and dramatic performances
hannah lovedThe Great Escapei recently watched lawrence of arabia and although that was a great film, its DRAAAAAGGED. i was worried this would be the same yet the 2.5 hours FLEW BY! a classic for a reason and an incredible story. damn i love a 60s film 9/10
Atom Users Reviews
Reviews
- JDJacob DominguezDWDon Walton
Metacritic
The Great Escape is that rare war film that doesn’t fully indulge in assumed nationalism, save for the fact that everyone speaks English. Sturges never touches on the essential hollowness and cruel pageantry of war, but he does the next best thing by depicting an international effort where victory, no matter how short-lived, depends on the cooperation of myriad talents, rather than the gruff can-do attitude of an unbreakable chosen one.
Chris Cabin
Slant Magazine
Way too flabby at 168 minutes, but once this 1963 feature gets going it's good, solid stuff, directed with an unusual lack of rhetoric by John Sturges.
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is The Great Escape (1963) (1963)?
The movie is 2hr 52min long.
What's The Great Escape (1963) (1963) about?
Allied officers in a German POW camp during World War II make a daring plan for a mass escape.
Who's the cast of The Great Escape (1963) (1963)?
- Steve McQueen as Capt. Hilts 'The Cooler King'
- James Garner as Flight Lt. Hendley 'The Scrounger'
- Richard Attenborough as Squadron Leader Roger Bartlett 'Big X'
- Charles Bronson as Flight Lt. Danny Velinski 'The Tunnel King'
- James Donald as Group Capt. Ramsey 'The SBO'
- Donald Pleasence as Flight Lt. Colin Blythe 'The Forger'
- James Coburn as Flying Officer Louis Sedgwick 'The Manufacturer'
- David McCallum as Lt. Cmdr. Eric Ashley-Pitt 'Dispersal'
- Gordon Jackson as Flight Lt. Sandy MacDonald 'Intelligence'
- John Leyton as Flight Lt. William Dickes 'The Tunneler'
Who's the director behind The Great Escape (1963) (1963)?
John Sturges directed The Great Escape (1963) (1963).
Who produced The Great Escape (1963) (1963)?
John Sturges and James Clavell produced The Great Escape (1963) (1963).
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