In 1943, the Germans opened Stalag Luft
North, a maximum security prisoner-of-
war camp designed to hold even the
craftiest escape artists. In doing so,
however, the Nazis unwittingly assembled
the finest escape team in military history-
brilliantly portrayed here by Steve McQueen,
James Garner, Charles Bronson and
James Coburn-who worked on what
became the largest prison break-out ever
attempted.
One of the most ingenious and suspenseful
adventure films of all time, The Great Escape
is a masterful collaboration between
director John Sturges (The Magnificent
Seven), screen-writers James Clavell
("Shogun") and W.R. Burnett (Little Caesar),
and composer Elmer Bernstein. Based on
a true story, The Great Escape is epic
entertainment that "entertains, captivates,
thrills and stirs (Variety).