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One of my all time favourite war classics, this is a 1963 World War II movie based on a true story. All allied prisoners of war who hold a record for escaping from German prisoner-of-war camps are shifted to the most secure, escape proof jail in German territory known as the Stalag Luft III run by Colonel von Luger. But with the never-say-die spirit of the best escapees of the Allied forces, they decide to organize one of the biggest breaks ever- with around 200 plus men gaining a chance for freedom.

The men are introduced as they are dropped into this new jail. Richard Attenborough as Squadron leader Roger Bartlett famously known as the Big X is locked up with “every escape artist in Germany” and is reminded that any attempts to escape would lead to him being shot.

But Bartlett’s sentiments were more of “Germans job is to keep us in, and our job is to trouble them by getting out” and hence the plot to make an escape plan rose to a major operation involving all the POWs in the British section.

Also introduced are Captain Virgil “The Cooler King” Hilts aka Steve McQueen known for his cheek which would land him into the cooler on umpteenth number of times. He and Ives decide to run away but fail in their attempt. Ives loses his life later on during American Independence Day when the Germans find out one of the three tunnels that the Prisoners of war were digging. The entire process of digging is well executed. Choir practicing to drown the noise of the tools, people tailoring civilian clothes, paper forging taking place- a really organized outfit working towards its goal with utmost efficiency. Bartlett persuades Hilts to reconnoiter during one of his escapes and then let himself be recaptured, so that they will have knowledge of the surrounding countryside, and can create maps to guide the escapees out of German-held territory. The first half of the movie covers all these avenues from Hendley scrounging for odds and ends including cameras to Danny Velinski digging the tunnel and Blythe preparing the forged papers and becoming almost blind in the process. With the Germans finding out about Tom (tunnel 1) , all work is spent towards finishing the third tunnel. Once all set, the escape takes place as planned with an air raid happening unexpectedly.

SPOILER :

The Germans find out about the operation during its progress and only seventy odd men manage to run away while the rest are forced back into the Jail. The rest of the movie follows each of the escapees as they try to reach neutral ground and end up getting recaptured or killed. The means of transport are varied, from trains to cycles to airplanes but through various mistakes and bad luck, most of them fall into the hands of the Germans.
SPOILER END

Part of the excitement of the movie lies in catching the action as it happens with the unexpected waiting to happen hence I shall keep out the juicy bites except obviously for the famous Steve McQueen motorcycle chase which is believed to have been mainly done by him. The movie ends with Hilt ending up in the cooler with his baseball glove and ball which he adorns every time he is shut into the cooler. It also leads to the sacking of Von Luger from his position at the jail.

The movie was a launch pad for many greats in the industry and has been classified as a classic. It is one of those classical war movies that shies away from the gore and grime to give the viewer a more aesthetic view to the escape that goes down in the history of the World War II as one of the greatest ever attempted.

Directed by John Sturges

Release date 1963

Running time 172 min