The Great Escape [1963]
£1.46
This version awful on wide screen tv - The film is great - however, the DVD format, at least the one I recevied, is awful - the film appears to be in a 4:3 format. The quality of the picture is terrible, and on a widescreen tv the picture sits in a tiny box in the centre of the screen. If this DVD hadn t come from Amazon, I would suspect that it s a pirated rip off. Disappointing.And btw - I have treid every setting available on both my tv and DVD player to get the film to at least fit the screen horizontally!
Good Luck Herr Bartlett - An early war film before the use of special effects works by it s acting. These were top escapists who weren t to be denied, how they actually succeeded was through ingenuity, except it came at a cost, namely death and recapture. The Germans knew they were going to be tested but they hadn t the collective nous to thwart the impending break out/s. Very sanitary in it s portrayal as it lacks an edge apart from the final scene of McQueen trying to outwit his pursuers. Marvellous back drop and having Bronson being a tunnelman afraid of the dark/clostrophobic and the brains of the operation going blind shows how plans can almost backfire.An excellent cast illuminates this War time drama, a deserved favourite!
Great film great music great performances - Is it possible to watch The Great escape too many times ?I have just finished watching it for the umpteenth time and it is as good as ever.A great cast of British and US actors with a classic and iconic performance by Steve McQueen. Even if you know nothing else about the film you will remember the motorcycle jump of the first border fence by McQueen.It is easy to forget that it also portrays a war crime by the Germans in murdering 50 of the escapees. They show the machine gun but not the bodies afterwards.The film is usually portrayed as a war time romp. In Colditz they spend their time organising concerts and escaping in the Great escape they spend their time digging tunnels and escaping.It is not possible to praise this film too much . It is up there with Zulu , 633 Squadron, the Longest Day.Bridge too Far, Dirty Dozen.
THE BEST OF ALL TIME.................................................... - This must be the greatest war film of all time. The cast is the best of the best and though three hours long, it flies and never bores.There is something realistic and naive about the film and our feelings go out to these desperate men who are trying to outwit the German war machine in order to return home.The most memorable part of the film will be the motorcycle chase. Steve McQueen excels as the dissident American who spends much of his time in the cooler because of his numerous excape attempts. I particularly liked James Garner as the scrounger.There is not one menber of the cast who did not rise to great heights.A marvellous film which I never tire of watching.
This film is realistic. - I have noticed that there a small amount of reviews that comment on the realism of the film, quick word in your ear. The camp in the film was guarded by the Luftwaffe (german airforce), most of the camp consisted airforce personal RAF ect ect. This is how the Luftwaffe treated the prisoners, showing some respect for the captors.