The Great Escape
One of the most exciting adventure tales ever told, this action epic recounts the planning, execution, and aftermath of a daring true-life escape from a German prisoner-of-war camp during World War II, in which 250 men attempted to tunnel their way to freedom. In the role that cemented his superstar status, Steve McQueen plays the motorcycle-racing daredevil who sets out to foil the Nazis, alongside an all-star cast that includes Charles Bronson, James Coburn, James Garner, and Donald Pleasence. The expert direction of John Sturges, eminently hummable Elmer Bernstein score, and rip-roaring stunts come together in what may just be the most spectacularly entertaining prison-break movie of all time, a rousing ode to the determination, camaraderie, and courage of everyday heroes.
Blu-ray Special Edition Features
- New, restored 4K digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
- Alternate 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
- Two audio commentaries, one from 1991, featuring director John Sturges and composer Elmer Bernstein; the other, from 2003, featuring actors James Coburn, James Garner, and Donald Pleasence
- New interview with critic Michael Sragow
- “The Great Escape”: Heroes Under Ground, a four-part 2001 documentary about the real-life escape from the Stalag Luft III prisoner-of-war camp dur- ing World War II, including interviews with POWs held there
- The Real Virgil Hilts: A Man Called Jones, a 2001 program on the United States Army Air Forces pilot David Jones, the inspiration for Steve McQueen’s character in the film
- Return to “The Great Escape,” a 1993 program featuring interviews with Coburn, Garner, and actors David McCallum and Jud Taylor
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Trailer
- PLUS: An essay by critic Sheila O’Malley
New cover by Sean Phillips
Blu-ray Special Edition Features
- New, restored 4K digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
- Alternate 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
- Two audio commentaries, one from 1991, featuring director John Sturges and composer Elmer Bernstein; the other, from 2003, featuring actors James Coburn, James Garner, and Donald Pleasence
- New interview with critic Michael Sragow
- “The Great Escape”: Heroes Under Ground, a four-part 2001 documentary about the real-life escape from the Stalag Luft III prisoner-of-war camp dur- ing World War II, including interviews with POWs held there
- The Real Virgil Hilts: A Man Called Jones, a 2001 program on the United States Army Air Forces pilot David Jones, the inspiration for Steve McQueen’s character in the film
- Return to “The Great Escape,” a 1993 program featuring interviews with Coburn, Garner, and actors David McCallum and Jud Taylor
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Trailer
- PLUS: An essay by critic Sheila O’Malley
New cover by Sean Phillips
Cast
- Steve McQueen
- Hilts, “the Cooler King “
- James Garner
- Hendley, “the Scrounger”
- Richard Attenborough
- Bartlett, “Big X”
- James Donald
- Ramsey, “the SBO”
- Charles Bronson
- Danny Velinski, “Tunnel King”
- Donald Pleasence
- Blythe, “the Forger”
- James Coburn
- Sedgwick, “the 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”
Credits
- Director
- John Sturges
- Produced by
- John Sturges
- Screenplay
- W. R. Burnett
- Screenplay
- James Clavell
- Based upon the book by
- Paul Brickhill
- Cinematographer
- Daniel L. Fapp
- Music
- Elmer Bernstein
- Art director
- Fernando Carrere
- Editor
- Ferris Webster
- Assistant to producer
- Robert E. Relyea
Trailer for The Great Escape
