The Great Escape Overview:

The Great Escape (1963) was a Adventure - Drama Film directed by John Sturges and produced by James Clavell and John Sturges.

Academy Awards 1963 --- Ceremony Number 36 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Film EditingFerris WebsterNominated
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The Great Escape BlogHub Articles:

Cinemallennials: The Great Escape (1963)

By Dave Lewis on Jun 16, 2021 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Cinemallennials: The Great Escape (1963) For those of you who are unfamiliar with Cinemallennials, it is a bi-weekly podcast in which I, and another millennial, watch a classic film that we?ve never seen before, and discuss its significance and relevance in today?s world. In today?s ... Read full article


The Great Escape (1963)

By Beatrice on Jan 5, 2018 From Flickers in Time

The Great Escape Directed by John Sturges Written by James Clavell and W.R. Burnett from a book by Paul Brickhill 1963/USA The Mirisch Company Repeat viewing/Netflixrental One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die I’ve loved this movie since I was a kid. The German Luftwaffe gets the b... Read full article


The Great Escape (1963, John Sturges)

By Andrew Wickliffe on Jul 21, 2014 From The Stop Button

While The Great Escape runs nearly three hours, director Sturges and screenwriters James Clavell and W.R. Burnett never let it feel too long. Part of the quick pace comes from the first half hour being told in something like real time and another big part of it is the aftermath of the escape taking ... Read full article


The Great Escape (1963)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Apr 25, 2014 From 4 Star Films

Based on true events, this film describes the heroic exploits of POWs in a German Stalag during World War II. With extreme heart and teamwork the men take upon the task of making a?massive?escape. Led by Richard Attenbourough, Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Charles Bronson to name a few, they begi... Read full article


The Great Escape (1963)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Apr 25, 2014 From 4 Star Films

Based on true events, this film describes the heroic exploits of POWs in a German Stalag during World War II. With extreme heart and teamwork the men take upon the task of making a?massive?escape. Led by Richard Attenbourough, Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Charles Bronson to name a few, they begi... Read full article


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Quotes from The Great Escape

No Quote for this film.

Facts about The Great Escape

The motorcycle that Hilts (Steve McQueen) rides is a cosmetically modified Triumph TR6 Trophy. Bud Ekins who actually performs the famous barbed wire leap stunt, was a Triumph dealer. Triumph was McQueen's favorite motorcycle marque. The motorcycle sidecar combination that crashes into a ditch is revealed to be a Triumph motorcycle, too. As is well known, these British motorcycle models were not in existence during the Second World War and their appearance is somewhat incongruous.
One day, the police in the German town where the film was shot set up a speed trap near the set. Several members of the cast and crew were caught, including Steve McQueen. The Chief of Police told McQueen "Herr McQueen, we have caught several of your comrades today, but you have won the prize for the highest speeding." McQueen was arrested and briefly jailed.
Donald Pleasence's character was based partly on London-born John Cordwell, later a Chicago architect and then proprietor of the Red Lion Pub on the city's N. Lincoln Avenue. Cordwell died in 1999. Stories about him and the Red Lion are told from various points of view in the collection "Tales from the Red Lion" (Chicago: Twilight Tales, 2007, ISBN 0977985623).
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Best Film Editing Oscar 1963






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Also directed by John Sturges




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Also produced by James Clavell




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Also released in 1963




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More "World War II" films



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