Great Escape

Year: 1963

Grade: A+

Country: USA

Director: Sturges

Review

This has been on and off my top 25 throughout my life and I think it might be there right now, but it had been a while since I saw it last. This time I watched it with the girls and loved it as much as I ever have. Zoe asked a million questions and I had to give them a history lesson on the Nazis (a supplement to the same lesson that was given while watching Sound Of Music), but we got through it. Great film in so many ways.

Love the ensemble, the music, love the few Americans who are in there and their contribution to the escape. I actually didn’t think about the dark ending when recommending the film to the girls, but I think it worked out okay. I also love the ending despite it not being the most cheery of outcomes. It does a good job of showing the difference between an average German and a true believer/true Nazi type who just wants the world to burn. Them getting out and then getting gunned down shows you the nature of the Nazis and is a good introduction to evil, especially considering the rest of the ending isn’t as depressing. Good mix.

Great fun, great feels, just a great epic of a film. Can’t wait to revisit more classics with the kids.