A film about POW’S in World War II, would seem to be a mostly depressing movie. The Great Escape has its down moments, but its central theme is teamwork and determination. The officers in the prison have tried escaping several times, and have always been recaptured. Ramsey (James Donald), meets with Bartlett, ‘Big X (Richard Attenborough), and is convinced to attempt another escape. This time the officers decide they will dig a tunnel under the prison, that leads to the woods. They have different men with different tasks, Hendley ‘The Scrounger’ (James Garner), Hilts ‘The Cooler King,’ (Steve McQueen and Blythe‘The Forger’ (Donald Pleasence). Steve McQueen has made it his job to cause as much disruption as possible. He does things like tossing his baseball beyond the perimeter. This gets him tossed in isolation, otherwise known as the cooler. He spends his days tossing his baseball against the wall, driving the guards crazy.
John Sturges did an excellent job of showing the claustrophobic and dangerous conditions involved in digging the tunnel. This is illustrated when dirt falls on Danny (The Tunnel King) Charles Bronson. He panics and says he’s not coming back. Cooler heads prevail and Danny gets back to his work, aided by Steve McQueen among others. The tunnel is completed, and the prisoners leave with phony papers, courtesy of Blythe (The Forger). Before they are able to begin their odyssey, its discovered the rope is too short. Hilts gets more rope, and they make it into the woods.
Some of the prisoners travel together, and some get separated. Hendley and Blythe form a bond of friendship, during their journey. This bond is formed when Blythe is going blind, and Hendley agrees to take him. Hendley manages to steal a plane from the Nazis. Unfortunately, the plane crashes, and Blythe is killed by the Nazis and a shocked and disheartened Hendley is once again captured. Both James Garner and Donald Pleasance lend humanity to their roles. This is particularly evident, when Blythe is told by BigX, that he can’t go with the officers, because he’s going blind.
Big X tries to get away on a bus, but his forged papers are discovered. He runs away, but is captured. He is put on a truck, with several officers. The Nazis tell them its going to be a long journey, and they’re stopping for a few minutes. When all of the officers get out, they are shot, including Big X.
Hilts is traveling on foot. He sees a Nazi on a motorcycle, and sets a tripwire, that works. He takes his bike and clothes, and proceeds on his way. This leads to the famous motorcycle chase in the film, ably directed by John Sturges. McQueen rides the bike and does very well. Hilts does a good job trying to evade the Nazis, but is captured when his bike crashes into a barbed wire fence.
There are successful escapes in this film. Danny (The Tunnel King), escapes on a rowboat and is picked up by a Swedish freighter. Sedgwick ‘manufacturer’, (James Coburn) escapes to France on a bicycle, by the French resistance, after they kill 3 Nazi officers at the cafe.
When the prisoners are brought back, Ramsey gives the total of prisoners escaped, brought back and killed to Hendley. The escapees total over seventy. The Kommandant ( Von Luger), is regarded as a failure by his superiors, and is removed. After this Hilts is brought back, and is given a hero’s welcome.
The Great Escape is almost three hours long, but it doesn’t feel like it. It has moments of comedy that lighten the theme, particularly when the wood is taken from the beds, and an officer falls through. It has quality direction from John Sturges, who previously worked with McQueen, Bronson and Coburn on The Magnificent Seven. It’s based on a true story, using composites of real people. The massacre of the officers did happen, and a few escapes are depicted, but there were over 70 officers who made it to freedom. It takes a lot to make a long film successful, but John Sturges has succeeded.
One of the reasons The Great Escape succeeds is because it shows hope. The officers for the most part, keep up their spirits. They manage to do this even after Ives ‘The Mole’ Angus Lennie, is killed, while climbing the fence. It is through their “never say die” attitude, that they keep going. The viewer can’t turn away, because its a very interesting and entertaining film.