The Great Escape (1963)

[MmzHrrdb]

A better name for The Great Escape would have been "Great Escapism," because that's all it really is. A likable, clever, and engaging film that, in spite of its stabs at relevancy, never really amounts to more than a "good" motion picture. Its status as a "masterpiece" and its integration into pop culture are false signs of a great classic. The Great Escape is, in fact, a solid film, but with too many problems to ascend into the level of greatness it's so often associated with.

Based off a true story (and helmed by John Sturges; director of the similarly overrated Magnificent Seven), The Great Escape takes place during World War II, in a German prison. By ambitious and desperate means, several men organize an escape from the prison. But they're not just looking to save themselves; they want to save the lives of 250 men.

The massive 165 minute length is immediately intimidating, but it flies by faster than one might expect. The first 30 minutes are solid, if a bit slow. The next 90 minutes, in which the escape is planned and executed, is fantastic fun to watch. Unfortunately, the last 45 minutes, detailing what happened after the escape, is the weakest of the bunch, and somehow feels longer than the preceding 2 hours.

The biggest issue with the last act is its dramatic difference in tone. While there is a sense of desperation and weight in the first two acts, it remains largely light-hearted. The last act is extremely downcast (as anyone familiar with the true story likely knows), and by the time one warms up to the film's new direction, the movie ends.

After 120 minutes have passed, one gets the feeling that they've been told a full story. And while what occurs after is important for the sake of perspective, it should have been dramatically shortened, or even eliminated and replaced with epilogue style text.

The cast is a likable bunch, portraying likable characters. Several actors carry over from The Magnificent Seven, including Steve McQueen and James Corbun, each benefiting from more interesting characters. Richard Attenborough, James Garner, Donald Pleasence, Charles Bronson, and Angus Lennie stand out, though the entire cast is delightful to watch.

Elmer Bernstein's score isn't as memorable as his wonderful work on The Magnificent Seven, but his work here, highlighted by the title march, is still very notable. This old-fashioned style of writing is certainly missed nowadays.

Far from a masterpiece, The Great Escape is still a fun and sometimes exciting film. It does suffer from excessive length and a problematic third act, but the strength of the first two thirds is ultimately enough to support the feature. But for what it's worth, I still prefer Aardman's delightful companion piece, Chicken Run.

Score: 7/10

[Stewball]

I gave it a point for the motorcycle stunt alone.

[MmzHrrdb]

I gave it a point for the motorcycle stunt alone.

Yes, it was really refreshing to be able to watch chase scenes and stunts like that with the assurance that it actually happened and wasn't just some visual trickery.