Great Escape
The Great Escape
Part of our Anniversary Classics series. For details, visit: laemmle.com/ac.
THE GREAT ESCAPE (1963)
55th Anniversary Screening
Saturday, February 10th, 7:30 PM
Ahrya Fine Arts Theatre
Laemmle Theatres and the Anniversary Classics Series present a 55th anniversary screening of one of the best-loved adventure movies of all time, John Sturges’ all-star production of 'The Great Escape.' Adapted from a nonfiction book by Paul Brickhill, the film told the mainly true story of the successful escape from one of the Nazis’ top-security POW camps during World War II. The screenplay was written by James Clavell ('King Rat,' 'To Sir, With Love,' 'Shogun') and W. R. Burnett ('High Sierra,' 'This Gun For Hire,' 'The Asphalt Jungle').
In reality the prisoners were almost all British, but the producers decided to add some American characters to beef up the film’s box-office potential. This was a shrewd decision because it allowed for the casting of up-and-coming American actors Steve McQueen (who became a superstar largely as a result of this film), James Garner, James Coburn, and Charles Bronson. They were joined by British actors Richard Attenborough, Donald Pleasence, James Donald, and David McCallum. Because of his love of motorcycles, McQueen asked that a spectacular motorcycle jump be added to the escape sequence, and it became one of the iconic scenes in the film, although it never really happened.
Released in the summer of 1963, the film emerged as one of the year’s biggest box-office hits and most reviews were ecstatic. Time magazine wrote, “Producer-director John Sturges has created classic cinema of action… 'The Great Escape' is simply great escapism.” Leonard Maltin called it “rip-roaring excitement with a marvelous international cast.” Sturges was known for his direction of other action classics, including 'Bad Day at Black Rock' and 'The Magnificent Seven,' the latter of which also featured McQueen. Oscar-winning cinematographer Daniel Fapp shot on location in Germany and Elmer Bernstein provided the memorable score. Ferris Webster was nominated for an Academy Award for his taut editing.
The film’s reputation has not dimmed over the years. In 2001 Esquire magazine called 'The Great Escape' “the greatest boys’ movie of all time.” Writing in the Los Angeles Times to celebrate the film’s 40th anniversary in 2003, Michael Sragow declared, “it is an escape, and it is great: It renders vividly and fully an experience that encompasses a panorama of emotions—fear, audacity, loyalty, panic, giddiness, intransigence, and fortitude.”
Format: DCP
55th Anniversary Screening
Saturday, February 10th, 7:30 PM
Ahrya Fine Arts Theatre
Laemmle Theatres and the Anniversary Classics Series present a 55th anniversary screening of one of the best-loved adventure movies of all time, John Sturges’ all-star production of 'The Great Escape.' Adapted from a nonfiction book by Paul Brickhill, the film told the mainly true story of the successful escape from one of the Nazis’ top-security POW camps during World War II. The screenplay was written by James Clavell ('King Rat,' 'To Sir, With Love,' 'Shogun') and W. R. Burnett ('High Sierra,' 'This Gun For Hire,' 'The Asphalt Jungle').
In reality the prisoners were almost all British, but the producers decided to add some American characters to beef up the film’s box-office potential. This was a shrewd decision because it allowed for the casting of up-and-coming American actors Steve McQueen (who became a superstar largely as a result of this film), James Garner, James Coburn, and Charles Bronson. They were joined by British actors Richard Attenborough, Donald Pleasence, James Donald, and David McCallum. Because of his love of motorcycles, McQueen asked that a spectacular motorcycle jump be added to the escape sequence, and it became one of the iconic scenes in the film, although it never really happened.
Released in the summer of 1963, the film emerged as one of the year’s biggest box-office hits and most reviews were ecstatic. Time magazine wrote, “Producer-director John Sturges has created classic cinema of action… 'The Great Escape' is simply great escapism.” Leonard Maltin called it “rip-roaring excitement with a marvelous international cast.” Sturges was known for his direction of other action classics, including 'Bad Day at Black Rock' and 'The Magnificent Seven,' the latter of which also featured McQueen. Oscar-winning cinematographer Daniel Fapp shot on location in Germany and Elmer Bernstein provided the memorable score. Ferris Webster was nominated for an Academy Award for his taut editing.
The film’s reputation has not dimmed over the years. In 2001 Esquire magazine called 'The Great Escape' “the greatest boys’ movie of all time.” Writing in the Los Angeles Times to celebrate the film’s 40th anniversary in 2003, Michael Sragow declared, “it is an escape, and it is great: It renders vividly and fully an experience that encompasses a panorama of emotions—fear, audacity, loyalty, panic, giddiness, intransigence, and fortitude.”
Format: DCP
Genre
Anniversary Classics,
Action/Adventure,
Drama
Runtime
172
Language
English
Director
John Sturges
Cast
James Garner,
Richard Attenborough,
Charles Bronson,
James Coburn
Played at
Fine Arts Theatre 2.10.18 - 2.10.18
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