Customer Reviews

The Great Escape (Widescreen) (1963)

5 star:		(109)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Okay....All the extras are great...and there are MANY featurettes and interviews to keep you busy for hours....BUT..the main point I want to make is for all of you who don't care about extras and figure you already have this on DVD....you don't...
this transfer is AMAZING!!! it is a real HIGH DEFINITION transfer and STUNNING is what they say on the case and its true! Many DVDs say digitally transfered....and often that just means they pulled it from a previously issued laserdisc via digital output...you have never seen this movie this pristine....EVER!

GREAT!!! Wonderful!! The Best!!! One of the best War Movies of all times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This film tells the enthralling, heroic and also tragic stories of the experiences of a group of WWII POWs. Based on a remarkable true escape. It does take some story-telling and film-making liberties, but these are justified by the results: a really gripping tale of the sacrifices and determination of the real men on which the film is based. If you are a war history buff, a 'heroes-against-the-odds' fan, or even just a motorcycle nut, you will love this one. Video and sound DVD transfer quality is most impressive.

The Great Escape (1963)
Adventure, Drama, History, 172 minutes
Directed by John Sturges
Starring Steve McQueen, James Garner and Richard Attenborough

The Great Escape runs almost three hours, but it's never boring. Don't think of it as a traditional war film as there are no battle scenes of any kind. This looks at how people dealt with captivity in a German POW camp. Although it's based on true events, there is far too much humor for us to take the story completely seriously.

It's meant as pure entertainment and features one of the strongest ensemble casts in movie history, featuring the likes of Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, James Coburn, David McCallum, Nigel Stock and Gordon Jackson.

It's the duty of every officer to attempt to escape or force the enemy to deploy a ridiculous amount of resources to prevent escapes. The Allied airmen perform that task to their best of their abilities. We see seven people attempt escape in the opening 20 minutes, but these are clumsy efforts meant to test the enemy.

Once that is over, the commanding officers devise a more serious plan. This is a fascinating segment in which we are shown how every man has a part to play, according to his expertise. The group decides to begin three escape tunnels and has several men experienced in that area. While that sounds easy, it's a logistical nightmare. Wood is needed to prevent tunnels from collapsing, so the group takes planks from every possible source. The dirt has to be disposed of and presents another problem. If the escape succeeds, the prisoners will need clothes and documentation to evade capture. They will need to be able to pass as German or French. We are shown how the group comes together and acquires all the necessary materials.

Despite setbacks, a number of prisoners eventually escape. This presents another problem because they can't all use the same escape route. Some travel by train, some by river, and others by cycle, plane or motorcycle.

The most appealing thing about The Great Escape is the sense of camaraderie and seeing how well the group functions as a unit. The Allied commander and the German Kommandant treat each other with respect. It's accepted that the prisoners will try to escape, but there's a sense of honor between the two sides. The Germans would likely attempt similar escapes if the roles were reversed.

Although the humor does take away from the serious nature of the situation, I don't think any disrespect is intended. The movie is dedicated to those who lost their lives. The story works because of the charisma of the cast and the pacing of the events as they unfold. I'm not a fan of war films focusing on battles and glory, but I do appreciate a look behind the scenes at the psychological aspects and group dynamics. That's where The Great Escape shines.

This is one of the great adventure films of all time. It deserves a better DVD treatment! This edition is garbage. DO NOT BUY IT.

The original DVD edition was shamefully mastered in 'matted' letterbox format, needlessly giving up resolution. This new edition is in proper anamorphic format, but something is wrong with the colors: they're over-saturated, with excessive contrast that 'blows out' any bright highlights. This is appalling, amateurish work, and deserves to be shunned and boycotted.

Hopefully, when they do the Blu-ray, they'll do a better job. (Yeah, right.) Of course, what they SHOULD do, is give people who have now purchased not one but TWO sub-standard copies of this film, a FREE copy of the next, properly-mastered version.

Great it has been transferred to digital format which improves the clarity. An excellent film that is a classic. I myself prefer the older films in the original full screen but this film it is fine.

The Great Escape - Synopsis
"In 1943, the Germans opened Stalag Luft III, 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. Together, under the guidance of the brilliant Bartlett (Richard Attenborough), the resourceful Hendley (James Garner) and the steely, determined Hilts (Steve McQueen), the men plot, scheme and dig their way to freedom... at any cost!"

First off, if you haven't seen the 1963 classic "The Great Escape", just stop reading this review and order it, even if this product was bare bones (which thankfully isn't the case) it would be a great value on the merits of the film alone. The Great Escape truly is one of the finest WWII films ever made on the subject.

Now onto the extras, the DVD is loaded with all sorts of documentaries and featurettes as well as a director's commentary (Which is rare on films from this era)

If you own it on VHS, UPGRADE, if you don't? Go OUT AND ORDER IT! Now I'm just sitting here and waiting for the 50th Anniversary bluray to get released.

So many so called collector's editions are ripoffs. This is definitely not the case with this set. The film itself is an absolute classic and worth the purchase alone, even despite the Hollywoodization and Americanization of an amazing story. What really makes it is the second disc with a series of fascinating documentaries, including the excellent British Granada documentary on the actual escape. A great film, accompanied with some superb background and historical information. Definitely one worth having in your collection, especially for anyone who wants to know what really happened.

THE GREAT ESCAPE Special Edition (MGM) is based with fidelity on Paul Brickhill's best-seller. The inspiring story is about heroic men who cannot be broken and refuse to give up.

This was Steve McQueen's career defining role but it's the late and much lamented Charles Bronson that you most remember as the taciturn tunnel digger with claustrophobia.

Previously released on DVD, this hi-def transfer has new 5.1 surround sound, and interesting extras that include five featurettes, a terrific documentary on the untold true story and a commentary track that includes John Sturges, some of the cast (including the late James Coburn) and crew.

I just finished watching all the extra stuff on the 2nd disc and if you are into the true story of this WWII event, you'll love it! I'm not sure, but I think there is almost 2 hours of extras. Although the film seems dated (especially after 'Band of Brothers'), I've now changed my mind - after seeing how accurate the director tried to keep the film. The only draw back was the director had to put the American's (mostly Steve McQueen) in the forefront where they didn't belong.