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The Great Escape

1963

John Sturges

Steve McQueen, James Garner, Charles Bronson, Richard Attenborough ...

8.2

68,000

Drama. Adventure The German high command has filtered out all of the allies' most talented escape artists and placed them in a POW camp specifically designed to foil any unwanted departures. But as soon as they arrive, the prisoners begin to work on a series of tunnels under the direction of Roger "Big X" Bartlett (Richard Attenborough). He assigns the POWs to jobs according to their specialties. For more than a year, countless prisoners, most of whom ... [+]

	Media	Author	Review
		Variety	"John Sturges has fashioned a motion picture that entertains, captivates, thrills and stirs."
		Bob McCabe Empire	"'The Great Escape' should always be seen. It reminds us of a history that is all too quickly forgotten (…) Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)"
		Chris Petit Time Out	"Uneven but entertaining World War II escape drama, which even when it first appeared seemed very old-fashioned."
		Bosley Crowther The New York Times	"A few of the wilder episodes in this over-long melodrama (...) are so far beyond plausibility that they could not have happened anyplace."
		Chris Cabin Slant	"[It] feels less burdened by the model it takes off from, which allows the film to build its own distinct style and thematic preoccupations, even as its influences remain clear (…) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 5)"
		Scott Tobias AV Club	"It's a triumph of sorts that a tale that ends in war crimes could have such a rousing conclusion."
		Dave Kehr Chicago Reader	"Once this 1963 feature gets going it's good, solid stuff"
		Sinclair McKay Telegraph	"The film is now enthralling a new generation."
		Jesse Hassenger AV Club	"The inmates are likable and compelling (...) The formal logistics of the movie are fun, in an orderly and methodical sort of way."

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