65th Anniversary of "The Great Escape"

[geardaddy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7962600.stm

Some surviving inmates of the German prisoner of war camp, immortalised by Hollywood as Stalag Luft 3, have returned to the site at Zagan in Poland to commemorate the anniversary of the escape attempt.

Frank Stone helped dig the 348-foot tunnel right under the noses of the German soldiers but he did not make it into the final escape party.

Of the 76 allied airmen who made their break for freedom using the tunnel, known as Harry, 50 were subsequently shot after being recaptured and only three men managed to get away completely.

Mr Stone, who spent the war as a prisoner in the camp, told Robert Hall what it had been like on the night of the 'Great Escape'.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

1. I have the DVD with extras....

including a documentary on the real escape. An incredible story, and an incredible film -- one of my favorites. Steve McQueen just rocked that movie. :loveya:

I have watched it easily a 100 times over the years -- if I am flipping channels and it's on, I'll always stop.

I think I'll have to pull out the DVD to celebrate the anniversary!

[geardaddy]

2. Yeah, I love that movie

It's one of my early favorites!

[jobycom]

6. There's something about it, isn't there? Not just the good script and characters

but there's the whole timeless struggle of people to be free, and the sacrifices.

Even with a mostly sad ending, it's an uplifting film. You watch it and feel it was better to try and fail then never to try. I'm another one who can't surf over it when it's on.

[Oeditpus Rex]

14. The disparity in the characters was sort of subtly central, I think

Hilts and Hendley, the Americans, were cocky, but in different ways — Hendley being quite the schemer where Hilts was more one to take advantage of a situation on the fly. "Big X" Bartlett had a kind of controlled desperation about him. Ramsey seemed the very model of a proper British gentleman until forced. Ashley-Pitt was cool and collected. Ives was fun-loving but insecure and ultimately cracked, and Danny kept his demons hidden because he had to in order to escape.

They all worked together because they had to.

[Captain Hilts]

19. That's what makes military movies so fascinating - disparate people thrown together. nt

[Captain Hilts]

18. It's okay to root for the prisoners to escape. And they're all really cute.

In real life the actors are all about ten years too old and 20 pounds too heavy.

[Blue_Tires]

3. great theme music, too

[raccoon]

4. I love it too. I have the soundtrack on a record album. nt

[geardaddy]

5. Now I've got it running in my head.

lol

:thumbsup:

[Captain Hilts]

17. I have the soundtrack also. Love it. Let's go Mets! nt

[jobycom]

7. Thanks! An interesting, informative post. Love it when that happens.

:)

[geardaddy]

8. Happy to oblige

:D

[edbermac]

9. Read a book called The Longest Tunnel by Alan Burgess

Goes into a lot of detail on some of the prisoners, their efforts to escape and the Allies pursuing the killers of 50 of the escapees. The movie Great Escape is good although it plays loose with a few of the facts.

[geardaddy]

10. I'll have to look that one up.

Sounds like something I'd enjoy reading.

Thanks!

[dysfunctional press]

11. "the birdmen" is another fun ww2 escape story made into a movie...

although in actuality, the real 'birdmen' at colditz never really got to use the glider they made to escape.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colditz_Cock

[TheMightyFavog]

12. NOVA did a show about the Colditz glider.

According to the mock-up they built, the thing would hav actually flown.

[geardaddy]

13. I saw that Nova episode

Very interesting.

[gmoney]

15. Gotta link to this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YExetXLMPQY

Eddie Izzard illuminates Steve McQueen's role in the movie...

[Captain Hilts]

16. I love reading about it. AND, the movie.

[blogslut]

20. Every time I watch that film

I think "This time, McQueen's gonna clear that fence."

I love that movie.