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DVD The Great Escape (2-Disc Collector's Set)
The Great Escape image of Steve McQueen (as "The Cooler King") astride his motorcycle has entered silver-screen iconography, alongside Brando on his bike from The Wild One. Based on a true story about a group of POWs who mount a daring breakout from a supposedly inescapable Nazi prison camp, this rousing and suspenseful WWII epic features an all-star cast, including James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, James Coburn, and David McCallum. The DVD also includes a 24-minute documentary about the making of the film. --Jim Emerson
Review(s): DVD The Great Escape (2-Disc Collector's Set)
The Great Escape Collector's Edition Was Disappointing
Although this is a very good movie, I was disappointed with the Collector's Edition version. I have the original letterbox version and I measured the aspect ratio at about 2.52:1. This new version, although anamorphic, has an aspect ratio of about 2.16:1. I wondered why so I compared scenes from the two versions and it looks like the sides were cropped off of the Collector's Edition to produce the movie with the new aspect ratio. I for one would like to see the entire movie as it was seen in the theater. MGM needs to fix this and release an anamorphic version with the original aspect ratio.
For the Three that Got Away.......
I have seen this movie numerous times, from the big screen to the TV, and no matter how many times..I keep hoping Steve McQueen makes that last jump over the double barbed wire. This is the kind of movie that makes you wish that more prisoners could have escaped and even more could have gotten home.
Based on the true story of the mass escape of 76 POW's from Stalag Luft III in March of 1941. Using bare hands and homemade tools, the prisoners built tunnels, made passports, and achieved something almost unimaginable...right under the nose of German guards...they design and executed one of the most daring escapes of WWII.
This movie had so many big named stars working together to re-create this historical moment. Even while writing this, I can hear the baseball hitting the wall as Capt. Virgil Hilts, Steve McQueen, sits out his time in the 'cooler'. Filled with pathos, humor and joy, this is a movie experience not to be missed.
This one never gets old!
During WWII the Germans tire of those who try to escape from their prisons. They build a new prison where they house all of those who have attempted escapes in the past. A fine cast, headed by Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, and James Garner, prove that this is a bad idea. With infinite care, the group begins planning an escape through one of three tunnels which they dub "Tom, Dick, and Harry". Every detail is thought through, from shoring up the tunnels with wood purloined from the camp, to forging documents to be used once the prisoners escape into Germany. There is comedy, there is drama, and it is neatly woven together into a story of human cunning and courage under extreme conditions. This is a story that bears repeating, and its performances remain a high point in many of the actors' careers.
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