The Great Escape
The Great Escape (1963)
“Put a fence in front of these men... and they'll climb it!”
Synopsis & Story Arc
Official Logline
The Nazis, exasperated at the number of escapes from their prison camps by a relatively small number of Allied prisoners, relocate them to a high-security 'escape-proof' camp to sit out the remainder of the war. Undaunted, the prisoners plan one of the most ambitious escape attempts of World War II. Based on a true story.
Complete Cast & Crew Directory
Directing & Screenplay
Cast & Characters
Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen
as Hilts 'The Cooler King'
James Garner
James Garner
as Hendley 'The Scrounger'
Richard Attenborough
Richard Attenborough
as Bartlett 'Big X'
James Donald
James Donald
as Ramsey 'The SBO'
Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson
as Danny 'Tunnel King'
Donald Pleasence
Donald Pleasence
as Blythe 'The Forger'
James Coburn
James Coburn
as Sedgwick 'Manufacturer'
Hannes Messemer
Hannes Messemer
as Von Luger 'The Kommandant'
David McCallum
David McCallum
as Ashley-Pitt 'Dispersal'
Gordon Jackson
Gordon Jackson
as MacDonald 'Intelligence'
John Leyton
John Leyton
as Willie 'Tunnel King'
Angus Lennie
Angus Lennie
as Ives 'The Mole'Cinematography & Large-Format Specifications
Cinematographic negative, aspect ratios & laboratory mastering sheet
| Aspect Ratios | 2.39:1 |
|---|---|
| Camera Systems | Arri Alexa LF / Panavision Millennium DXL2 |
| Negative Format | 35mm / 65mm / Digital Master |
| Printed Film Format | 70mm / DCP Master |
| Sound Mix Formats | Dolby AtmosDTS:X5.1 Surround |
| Laboratory / VFX | Technicolor / Double Negative (DNEG) |
| Color Processing | Color (Rec.709 / DCI-P3 Mastering) |
| Official Runtime | 173 min |
Behind The Scenes
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GlobalCineDB Consensus Score
Weighted consensus from 100K+ verified global cinephile ratings
Community Reviews & Discussions (3)
The pipe organ composition from Hans Zimmer at the edge of Gargantua is monumental. Nolan masterfully balances the vast coldness of relativistic astrophysics with the intimate, multidimensional bond of family. A transcendent achievement of cinema.
"Do not go gentle into that good night, Rage, rage against the dying of the light." Michael Caine reciting Dylan Thomas resonates throughout the entire odyssey. Pure cinematic grandeur.