The Great Escape (1963)

Set in 1942 WWII, the Third Reich builds a new camp designed specifically for POWs who repeatedly make escape attempts. But the prisoners under the leadership of an RAF squadron leader (Richard Attenborough) plot a massive escape involving 250 prisoners of war. Based on the non fiction book by Paul Brickhill and directed by John Sturges (BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK). A grandly entertaining WWII adventure based on a true story but heavily fictionalized for the screen (the Americans are given a more prominent role then they actually had). Running almost three hours, the film could have used some pruning in the editing room and one cliched character (the irritating Scotsman played by Angus Lennie) could have been eliminated altogether. On the plus side, there's a charismatic performance by Steve McQueen and director Sturges keeps the suspense high on the intensity scale. The story had previously been dramatized for TV in 1951 with Rod Steiger and E.G. Marshall in the cast. With James Garner, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Donald Pleasence, David McCallum, James Donald, Gordon Jackson, John Leyton and Hannes Messemer.