The Road To Dunkirk: The Great Escape
- Jul 15, 2017
- 2 min read
On July 20th Christopher Nolan's WW2 Thriller, Dunkirk, lands in cinemas. To prepare yourselves, and myself, for what will likely be a wholly memorable war film, each day until release I'll be reviewing some of my favourite WW2 films. This time it's one of the great war films, one of the great prison films, The Great Escape.
Stalag Luft 3 is the newest Nazi war camp, designed from the ground up to hold one type of prisoner, escape artists. While at first it may have seemed like a good idea, managing escape attempts in one place is easier than in many, the Nazi's have unwittingly put together the greatest team of escapists the world has ever known. Led by Roger Bartlett (Richard Attenborough) and aided by Captain Hilts (Steve McQueen) and Danny Velinski (Charles Bronson), the largest mass escape in history is underway. Under the ever watchful eye of their captors, the allied prisoners must make the best of what they have and they cannot be caught, whatever the cost.
Taking some of the greatest actors of their time and placing them within an incredible story, one inspired by true events, is surely a recipe for success. The Great Escape stands testament to this. Every bit as riveting now as it is every time I have watched, between the excellent performances and writing, as well as what has since become one of the most iconic main themes around (seriously, it's really good), The Great Escape has taken a hold of its rightful place, that being one of the best war films ever made.
While it may not feature the visceral reality of Hacksaw Ridge, nor the light-hearted tone of Kelly's Heroes, it manages to be equal parts humorous and serious. The humour stems from the prisoners, it being one of the few things they don't have to take seriously, with the cast poking fun at their captors or making snide remarks at the expense of others. The serious tones simply arise from the nature of the film. From the beginning it is made clear that any man who is caught after he escapes will be shot and soon enough the Germans ensure that everyone, audience included, know that it is no idle threat.
Many movies talk themselves up in their title. The Great Gatsby, Oz The Great And Powerful, The Magnificent 7 and so on. But rarely do they live up to such things. The Great Escape however, does so with ease and for this, it has earned its praise.
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