The Great Escape (1963)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
A group of Allied prisoners of war attempt a daring and massive escape from a German camp during World War II.
The story
During World War II, Allied prisoners of war are moved to a new camp under the command of Luftwaffe Colonel von Luger, who warns them that escapees will be shot. Among the prisoners are various officers, including the rebellious American Hilts and the organized British officer Roger Bartlett. Bartlett establishes an escape-planning committee to organize a mass breakout of 250 men to divert German forces. The prisoners begin a clandestine operation, constructing three tunnels—'Tom', 'Dick', and 'Harry'—while managing to hide their activities from the guards. As the escape date approaches, the men must balance the risks of their elaborate preparations with the constant threat of discovery by the German authorities.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
During World War II, Allied POWs are held in a German camp where they are warned that any attempt to escape will result in execution. Despite the risk, Squadron Leader Roger Bartlett organizes a committee to plan a mass escape of 250 men. The prisoners construct three tunnels, and various specialists are assigned roles: digging, making equipment, forging documents, and creating distractions. During a celebration, the guards discover the 'Tom' tunnel; after a prisoner is killed, the men continue with 'Dick' and 'Harry'. On the night of the escape, many flee through the tunnels. While some successfully reach safety—including a few who make it to Sweden and Spain—many others are captured. The film depicts the harrowing aftermath, where 50 escapees are executed by the Germans. The story concludes with the survivors being informed of the massacre, while the remaining prisoners, including the defiant Hilts, continue their lives in the camp.
- First release year
- 1963
- Runtime (minutes)
- 172
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English; German; French; Russian
- Directors
- John Sturges
- Genres
- epic; historical; war; adventure
- Themes
- bravery; defiance; sacrifice
- Tone and mood
- heroic; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- war; prison escape; historical fiction
- Source material / true-story basis
- Paul Brickhill's 1950 non-fiction book of the same name
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim, became a high-grossing hit, and gained a cult following.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 94% · scale: percentage · review count: 53
- Awards and nominations
- Best Actor · Moscow International Film Festival · Winner; Grand Prix · Moscow International Film Festival · Nominated; Film Editing · Academy Award · Nominated; Best Picture · Golden Globe Award · Nominated; Best Written American Drama · Writers Guild of America · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The film is noted for its motorcycle chase and jump scene, considered one of the best stunts ever performed.; The film's screenplay was adapted by James Clavell, W. R. Burnett and Walter Newman.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…