The Great Escape poster

The Great Escape(1963)

2h 53mAdventure, Drama, WarEnglish
7.9/10
2,849 user ratings

Put a fence in front of these men... and they'll climb it!

Overview

The Nazis, exasperated at the number of escapes from their prison camps by a relatively small number of Allied prisoners, relocate them to a high-security 'escape-proof' camp to sit out the remainder of the war. Undaunted, the prisoners plan one of the most ambitious escape attempts of World War II. Based on a true story.

Director

John Sturges

Studio

The Mirisch Company

Budget

$4M

Revenue

$12M

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Cast

Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen

as Hilts 'The Cooler King'

James Garner

James Garner

as Hendley 'The Scrounger'

Richard Attenborough

Richard Attenborough

as Bartlett 'Big X'

James Donald

James Donald

as Ramsey 'The SBO'

Charles Bronson

Charles Bronson

as Danny 'Tunnel King'

Donald Pleasence

Donald Pleasence

as Blythe 'The Forger'

James Coburn

James Coburn

as Sedgwick 'Manufacturer'

Hannes Messemer

Hannes Messemer

as Von Luger 'The Kommandant'

David McCallum

David McCallum

as Ashley-Pitt 'Dispersal'

Gordon Jackson

Gordon Jackson

as MacDonald 'Intelligence'

John Leyton

John Leyton

as Willie 'Tunnel King'

Angus Lennie

Angus Lennie

as Ives 'The Mole'

Where to Watch

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Movie Facts

Release Year

1963

Runtime

2h 53m

Language

English

Rating

7.9 / 10

Budget

$4M

Box Office

$12M

Production Companies

The Mirisch Company • United Artists

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I watch The Great Escape?

Check the "Where to Watch" section above for current streaming platforms, rental options, and purchase links for The Great Escape (1963).

What is The Great Escape about?

The Nazis, exasperated at the number of escapes from their prison camps by a relatively small number of Allied prisoners, relocate them to a high-security 'escape-proof' camp to sit out the remainder of the war. Undaunted, the prisoners plan one of the most ambitious escape attempts of World War II. Based on a true story.

Who directed The Great Escape?

The Great Escape was directed by John Sturges and released in 1963. It is a adventure, drama, war film.

How long is The Great Escape?

The Great Escape has a runtime of 2 hours and 53 minutes (173 minutes total).

Who stars in The Great Escape?

The cast of The Great Escape includes Steve McQueen as Hilts 'The Cooler King', James Garner as Hendley 'The Scrounger', Richard Attenborough as Bartlett 'Big X', James Donald as Ramsey 'The SBO', Charles Bronson as Danny 'Tunnel King' and more.

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