| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Steve McQueen | ... | Hilts 'The Cooler King' | |
| James Garner | ... | Hendley 'The Scrounger' | |
| Richard Attenborough | ... | Bartlett 'Big X' | |
| James Donald | ... | Ramsey 'The SBO' | |
| Charles Bronson | ... | Danny 'Tunnel King' | |
| Donald Pleasence | ... | Blythe 'The Forger' | |
| James Coburn | ... | Sedgwick 'Manufacturer' | |
| Hannes Messemer | ... | Von Luger 'The Kommandant' | |
| David McCallum | ... | Ashley-Pitt 'Dispersal' | |
| Gordon Jackson | ... | MacDonald 'Intelligence' | |
| John Leyton | ... | Willie 'Tunnel King' | |
| Angus Lennie | ... | Ives 'The Mole' | |
| Nigel Stock | ... | Cavendish 'The Surveyor' | |
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Robert Graf | ... | Werner 'The Ferret' |
| Jud Taylor | ... | Goff | |
Based on a true story, a group of allied escape artist-type prisoners-of-war are all put in an "escape proof" camp. Their leader decides to try to take out several hundred all at once. The first half of the movie is played for comedy, as the prisoners mostly outwit their jailers to dig the escape tunnel. The second half is high adventure as they use planes, trains, and boats to get out of occupied Europe. Written by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>
This must be my favorite movie of all times. Having seen it for the first time,in I guess 1987,a BBC Christmas broadcast,I was captivated by this brilliant piece of work. In the years after,I probably have seen it a "million" times,owning it on VHS and DVD,and still watching,whenever it is broadcast,in the original language. Why is it so great? This is a movie that keeps you locked to the screen,because it has everything a great movie should have. A great story,a good length,tension,it is a WW2 movie and the actors give top performances.Not just Steve McQueen,although his performance is brilliant,but also James Garner,James Coburn,Richard Attenborough,Charles Bronson and in this film,one of the greatest roles Donald Pleasance,playing the forger. It isn't historically accurate,please read the book by Paul Brickhill,but that doesn't matter a bit. This film gives you an image of POW camp,the prisoners and their guards,the Germans are also played brilliantly by German actors. I will not repeat the story here,but I can tell you,this film will capture you,all the characters are portrayed brilliantly by the actors. There is excitement,humor,tension,drama and emotion. See it,you will not regret it.