The Great Escape (1963)
(John Sturges, US 1963, 172 min., 35mm)
Released on the Fourth of July nearly sixty years ago, The Great Escape is one of the most thrilling films ever made, based on the true story of a mass escape from a German prison camp during World War II. The most tenacious Allied escape artists are moved to the maximum security Stalag Luft III because of the resources expended to recapture them every time. Naturally, the prisoners come up with another plan that involves three tunnels, “Tom,” “Dick,” and “Harry,” that they need to complete while staying one step ahead of their captors. Skilled direction and an all-star cast, including Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, and Charles Bronson, set the standard for prison escape thrillers.