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The Great Escape (1963)

Approved | | Adventure, Drama, History | 4 July 1963 (USA)
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Allied prisoners of war plan for several hundred of their number to escape from a German camp during World War II.

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Writers:

(book), (screenplay) | 1 more credit »

Stars:

, , | See full cast & crew »
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2,091 ( 513)
Top Rated Movies #125 | Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 9 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
... Hilts 'The Cooler King'
... Hendley 'The Scrounger'
... Bartlett 'Big X'
... Ramsey 'The SBO'
... Danny 'Tunnel King'
... Blythe 'The Forger'
... Sedgwick 'Manufacturer'
... Von Luger 'The Kommandant'
... Ashley-Pitt 'Dispersal'
... MacDonald 'Intelligence'
... Willie 'Tunnel King'
... Ives 'The Mole'
... Cavendish 'The Surveyor'
Robert Graf ... Werner 'The Ferret'
... Goff
See full cast »
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Storyline

Based on a true story, a group of allied escape artist-type prisoners-of-war (POWs) 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 film 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 boats and trains and planes to get out of occupied Europe. Written by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

tunnel | escape | prisoner of war | nazi germany | escape from prison | See All (39) »

Taglines:

the great adventure! the great entertainment! See more »

Genres:

Adventure | Drama | History | Thriller | War

Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

| | | |

Release Date:

4 July 1963 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

El gran escape  »

Filming Locations:

 »
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Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$12,100,000
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

,  »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Westrex Recording System)|

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Donald Pleasence's character was based partly on London-born John Cordwell, later a Chicago architect and then proprietor of the Red Lion Pub on the city's N. Lincoln Avenue. Cordwell died in 1999. Stories about him and the Red Lion are told from various points of view in the collection "Tales from the Red Lion" (Chicago: Twilight Tales, 2007, ISBN 0977985623). See more »

Goofs

When Ashley Pitt shoots the Gestapo agent to protect Roger at the train station, no bullet hole is seen in the Gestapo agent's tunic. See more »

Quotes

Herr Kuhn: Squadron Leader Bartlett, if you escape again and be caught, you will be shot.
Herr Kuhn: [to Von Luger] Heil Hitler!
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Supernatural: The Usual Suspects (2006) See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many of the real escapees survived?
Q: Is this movie based on a book?
Q: Are any of the men still alive?
See more »

User Reviews

 
Absolutely Awesome!!!
28 September 2004 | by – See all my reviews

The Great Escape is a classic war movie with plenty happening in it. It just so happens that it is my all time favourite having seen it 60 times since it first was released. Steve McQueen , as Hilts, was the driving force behind this movie. He seemed to tie everything together between the American and British prisoners especially in the scene where they were celebrating the 4th of July with the drums and good ole fashioned American moonshine. The Great Escape contains one of the most famous movie scenes of all times when McQueen has half of the German army chasing after him while riding his motorcycle trying to jump the barb wire fence to get to Switzerland. All in all, The Great Escape had a cast of actors that was so strong that it was a wonder they got this movie made in the first place with all of the egos involved. James Garner, Charles Bronson, Angus Lennie, James Coburn, etc.were absolutely awesome.
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