Allied prisoners of war plan for several hundred of their number to escape from a German camp during World War II.Allied prisoners of war plan for several hundred of their number to escape from a German camp during World War II.Allied prisoners of war plan for several hundred of their number to escape from a German camp during World War II.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 3 wins & 12 nominations total
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn this movie, several Americans (including Hilts and Henley) were amongst the escapees. In real life, American officers assisted with the construction of the escape tunnel, but weren't amongst the escapees, because the Germans moved them to a remote compound just before the escape.
- GoofsTimbers are needed to hold back thousands of pounds of dirt from a tunnel collapse. The three feet long, 1/2 inch thick pieces taken from the bed frames shown used in the tunnel could not withstand the weight. However documentary interviews and excavation of the actual Stalag Luft 3 site, shows that the films depiction of the tunnel's construction was accurate. While the material used may not have been adequate for a professional tunnel or mine, they were apparently adequate for the task and some are still holding up the tunnel even now.
- Alternate versionsSome TV versions edit the scene in which Ives is shot and killed for trying to escape over the fence.
- ConnectionsEdited into Return to 'the Great Escape' (1993)
Featured review
Great Movie
This film does take a few libertys with facts, there were no Americans involved in the escape, though some helped plan it, and where transferred to another camp at the last moment.This film though is about heroes and the spirit of freedom.T he film belongs to McQueen who is just fantastic to watch the camera loved him and I believe one day he will jump that fence.The rest of the cast are particurlarly good, the scene where the forger is told he can't escape is moving especially when James Garner volunteers to look after him.The James Garner character is roll model for me I always try to scrounge things.Simply watch and enjoy a truly great movie you will laugh and then feel down. I give this movie 8/10
helpful•277
- toonnnnn
- Dec 30, 2003
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Gesprengte Ketten
- Filming locations
- Füssen, Bavaria, Germany(motorcycle scenes; Gestapo agents chase Bartlett and MacDonald)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $4,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $230,637
- Runtime2 hours 52 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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![Richard Attenborough, Steve McQueen, and James Garner in The Great Escape (1963)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNzA2NmYxMWUtNzBlMC00MWM2LTkwNmQtYTFlZjQwODNhOWE0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTIzOTk5ODM@._V1_QL75_UX90_CR0,4,90,133_.jpg)