Principal cast
Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, James Donald and Charles Bronson
Film 356 of 498 on the Screen Path
The Great Escape
Put a fence in front of these men... and they'll climb it!
About the film
The Great Escape at a glance.
Screen Path places this 1963 film at stop 356 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.
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.
Key craft credits
Daniel L. Fapp (director of photography), Ferris Webster (editor), Elmer Bernstein (original music composer), James Clavell (screenplay) and W.R. Burnett (screenplay)
- Director
- John Sturges
- Release
- 1963-07-03
- Runtime
- 173 minutes
- Genres
- Adventure, Drama and War
- Country
- United States
- Quiz
- 50 questions
The Screen Path journey
Before. After. Remember.
The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.
01
Before you watch
Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.
Spoiler-free02
After the film
Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.
Contains spoilers03
Quiz yourself
Answer 50 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.
50 questions in this journeyCitizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.
Start the example →Full cast
Full cast
- Steve McQueenCharacter: Hilts 'The Cooler King'
- James GarnerCharacter: Hendley 'The Scrounger'
- Richard AttenboroughCharacter: Bartlett 'Big X'
- James DonaldCharacter: Ramsey 'The SBO'
- Charles BronsonCharacter: Danny 'Tunnel King'
- Donald PleasenceCharacter: Blythe 'The Forger'
- James CoburnCharacter: Sedgwick 'Manufacturer'
- Hannes MessemerCharacter: Von Luger 'The Kommandant'
- David McCallumCharacter: Ashley-Pitt 'Dispersal'
- Gordon JacksonCharacter: MacDonald 'Intelligence'
- John LeytonCharacter: Willie 'Tunnel King'
- Angus LennieCharacter: Ives 'The Mole'
Full crew
Full crew
- John SturgesCredits: Producer, Director
- James ClavellCredits: Screenplay, Producer
- Paul BrickhillCredits: Novel
- W.R. BurnettCredits: Screenplay
- Elmer BernsteinCredits: Original Music Composer
- Daniel L. FappCredits: Director of Photography
- Ferris WebsterCredits: Editor
- Fernando CarrereCredits: Art Direction
- Walter MirischCredits: Executive Producer
- Jay SebringCredits: Hair Designer
- Loren JanesCredits: Stunt Double
- Robert E. RelyeaCredits: Production Office Assistant
- Allen K. WoodCredits: Production Supervisor
- Jack N. ReddishCredits: Assistant Director
- John FrancoCredits: Script Supervisor
- Richard CarruthCredits: Music Editor
- Wayne FuryCredits: Sound Effects Editor
- Kurt RipbergerCredits: Set Decoration
- Frank AgnoneCredits: Property Master
- Emile LaVigneCredits: Makeup Artist
- A. Paul PollardCredits: Special Effects
- Bert HenriksonCredits: Wardrobe Supervisor
- Don TomlinsonCredits: Assistant Editor
- Steve McQueenCredits: Stunt Driver
- Roy JensonCredits: Stunts
- Sam Freed Jr.Credits: Musician
Film data and images provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.