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Regular
Price $14.98
Starring:
Steve McQueen,
James Garner,
Richard Attenborough,
James Donald,
Charles Bronson,
Directed By:
John Sturges,
Rated: Unrated
Release Date: 1963-07-04
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Format:
Closed-captioned,
Color,
Dolby,
DVD-Video,
Letterboxed,
Widescreen,
NTSC,
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Editorial Reviews and
DVD Information about
The Great Escape
Product Description
In 1943 the Germans opened Stalag Luft North a maximum-security prisoner-of-war camp designed to hold even the craftiest escape artists. In doing so however the Nazis unwittingly assembled the finest escape team in military history-brilliantly portrayed here by Steve McQueen James Garner Charles Bronson and James Coburn-who worked on what became the largest prison breakout ever attempted. One of the most ingenious and suspenseful adventure films of all time "The Great Escape" is a masterful collaboration between director John Sturges ("The Magnificent Seven") screenwriters James Clavell ("Shogun") and W.R. Burnett ("Little Caesar") and composer Elmer Bernstein. Based on a true story "The Great Escape" is epic entertainment.Starring: Steve McQueen James Garner and Richard AttenboroughDirector: John SturgesProduced by John Sturges; written by James Clavell & W.R. Burnett; DVD released on 03/31/1998; running time of 172 minutes; Closed Captioned. Copyright: 1963 MGM Home EntertainmentSystem Requirements:24-Minute in-depth Documentary on the Making of "The Great Escape" Trivia and Production Notes Original Theatrical Trailer Dual-layer Format for Continuous Playback Languages: English & French Subtitles: English French and Spanish Dolby Digital sound Widescreen Theatrical Release Format Featurette Interactive Film Trivia Interactive Menus Video Format: Widescreen (no AR specified) Track Info: English: Dolby Digital Mono French: Dolby Digital MonoFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: UPC: 027616668028 Manufacturer No: M108735
Amazon.com essential video
A stirring example of courage and the indomitable human spirit, for many John Sturges's The Great Escape is both the definitive World War II drama and the nonpareil prison escape movie. Featuring an unequalled ensemble cast in a rivetingly authentic true-life scenario set to Elmer Bernstein's admirable music, this picture is both a template for subsequent action-adventure movies and one of the last glories of Golden Age Hollywood. Reunited with the director who made him a star in The Magnificent Seven, Steve McQueen gives a career-defining performance as the laconic Hilts, the baseball-loving, motorbike-riding "Cooler King." The rest of the all-male Anglo-American cast--Dickie Attenborough, Donald Pleasance, James Garner, Charles Bronson, David McCallum, James Coburn, and Gordon Jackson--make the most of their meaty roles (though you have to forgive Coburn his Australian accent). Closely based on Paul Brickhill's book, the various escape attempts, scrounging, forging, and ferreting activities are authentically realized thanks also to technical advisor Wally Flood, one of the original tunnel-digging POWs. Sturges orchestrates the climax with total conviction, giving us both high action and very poignant human drama. Without trivializing the grim reality, The Great Escape thrillingly celebrates the heroism of men who never gave up the fight. --Mark Walker
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Customer Reviews for
The Great Escape
Definite Classic
This movie stands the test of time. While it did not get much respect when it came out. Most of Steve McQueen's movies don't stand the test. This movie stands out in my mind in a long list of World War II movies. Then you have to consider the All Star cast in this movie; it can't be beat. Truly a great film.The Great Escape
Special Edition not special enough
This is yet another five-star film reduced to a three-star DVD. And I'm talking about the latest remastered Special Edition. While this version has, at last, been mastered in anamorphic widescreen (unlike the previous letterboxed release), and received at least a semblance of the extras it needs, basic video quality still leaves a great deal to be desired.
The image on this transfer is sharp and clear, but flesh tones are over-saturated, with an unnatural orange look. Also, the image has far too much contrast, leading to constant burned-out highlights on people's foreheads. This isn't the worst transfer I've ever seen (for that, check out the various "collectors'" editions of The Quiet Man), but it is far from definitive, and shamefully inferior to what this great film deserves.
To add further insult, the case features a flimsy hinged center mount for the extra disc. This arrived broken, so that the case was effectively useless for safe storage.
After my enormous disappointment with the original release, and the glowing descriptions I'd read of this 'fixed' version, I had expected much better. My advice: wait for some future, properly-mastered Blu-ray edition to become as cheap as this DVD. Maybe by then the movie industry will have grown weary of abusing movie fans with one slipshod "special" release after another.The Great Escape
A Classic WW2 Movie That Defined a Genre
I've read the Brickhill book which formed the basis of this film. It was an excellent book but the film itself really captured the amazing spirit of the Allies in this world conflict. John Sturges does an amazing job in terms of the character development, pacing, action and more. This is an essential World War II film for any moviegoer and especially for a WW2 junkie. This movie defined the Prison escape film.
The ensemble cast with the engimatic McQueen, the stalwart James Garner and the steady of Richard Attenborough was amazing. In addition, the great character represented by Charles Bronson, James Coburn and Gordon Jackson round out one of the most memorable films in film history.
The Great Escape
An All Time Classic
The Great Escape is a classic WWII movie that will have you laughing at one moment and on the edge of your seat the next. If you are a fan of WWII movies then this is a must have for your collection.
The all-star cast such as James Garner and Steve McQueen, add a lot of flavor to the movie. Overall though, the whole cast in the movie does a terrific job at playing their part. I would recommend this classic movie to anyone.
Also, the two-disc special edition has some great extras included with it that makes it even more worth while, such as a great documentary on the filming of the movie.The Great Escape
"Inescapably Good"
This movie about the extremely creative and finally succesful escape plans, from a WWII Nazi POW camp, is beautifully done. The prisoners, a cast of some of our best movie "tough guys" and talented character actors keep us nervously awaiting their next moves. Watching this movie is exciting entertainment at its best.The Great Escape
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Customers who bought
The Great Escape
also bought:
The Magnificent Seven (Special Edition)
The Dirty Dozen
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Kelly's Heroes
The Longest Day (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
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