The Great Escape
1963 · Directed by John Sturges
Original language: English
- adventure
- drama
- war
The story
The Nazis, exasperated at the number of escapes from their prison camps by a relatively small number of Allied prisoners, relocate them to a high-security 'escape-proof' camp to sit out the remainder of the war. Undaunted, the prisoners plan one of the most ambitious escape attempts of World War II. Based on a true story.
What it’s like
Wide, sun-washed exteriors of a barbed-wire compound under hard daylight give way to the grey, close interiors of the huts, with long, carefully staged group shots and a steady, almost bureaucratic framing that lets you watch men work out a problem. The palette is earthy and dusty, all khaki, pale timber and washed-out sky, with the occasional flash of a motorcycle or a searchlight at night. Orchestral brass and a bright, march-like score lift the mood whenever the plan moves forward, while the quieter stretches rely on the scrape of shovels, clipped German voices and the drone of distant aircraft. The tone is wry and buoyant, close to a boys' own adventure with a streak of melancholy underneath, and the pace is brisk and episodic, building toward a long final act of rising tension. Violence is present but restrained: guards shoot at fleeing men, there are a few sharp, brief deaths, and the ending is sombre rather than gory. It suits a Sunday afternoon with the blinds half drawn, or anyone who wants a classic ensemble caper with ingenuity, camaraderie and a bittersweet sense of defiance. Best for viewers who enjoy old-fashioned, character-driven war stories without graphic brutality.
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