The Great Escape, written by James Clavell, W.R. Burnett, and Walter Newman (uncredited), and directed by John Sturges is a popular 1963 World War II film, based on a true story about Allied prisoners of war with a record for escaping from German prisoner-of-war camps. The Luftwaffe placed them in a new more secure camp, Stalag Luft III, from which they promptly formed a plan to break out 250 men.
The film was based upon the factual book of the same name by Paul Brickhill, who observed the actual events as a prisoner.
Featuring an all-star cast including Steve McQueen (whose motorcycle chase is the film’s most remembered action scene; he also did many of his own stunts), James Garner, Richard Attenborough, James Coburn, Charles Bronson and Donald Pleasence — The Great Escape is regarded as a classic and frequently repeated on television.
The march tune that serves as the film’s theme, written by Elmer Bernstein, has also become a classic. Though the film is today considered a classic, it was largely ignored at the 1963 Academy Awards. Ferris Webster’s film editing received the only nomination, though he lost to Harold F. Kress for How the West Was Won.
The film was based upon the factual book of the same name by Paul Brickhill, who observed the actual events as a prisoner.
Featuring an all-star cast including Steve McQueen (whose motorcycle chase is the film’s most remembered action scene; he also did many of his own stunts), James Garner, Richard Attenborough, James Coburn, Charles Bronson and Donald Pleasence — The Great Escape is regarded as a classic and frequently repeated on television.
The march tune that serves as the film’s theme, written by Elmer Bernstein, has also become a classic. Though the film is today considered a classic, it was largely ignored at the 1963 Academy Awards. Ferris Webster’s film editing received the only nomination, though he lost to Harold F. Kress for How the West Was Won.
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