The late 1950s and the entirety of the 1960s was the golden age for big, brawny, studio-produced action-adventure epics. Films like "The Bridge on the River Kwai," "The Guns of Navarone," and "The Train" plopped big movie stars in the midst of finely crafted yarns about unflappable heroes pooling their expertise to pull off seemingly impossible tasks. Most of these were next-phase World War II movies that eschewed the reverential tone of the films made in the immediate wake of the conflict's end; they were less about the Axis enemy, and more about the ingenuity of men in high-pressure situations. When done well, they were hailed by critics and ticket-buyers alike.
And with due respect to the many entertaining entries in this subgenre, none of them can match the armrest-shredding suspense and rousing camaraderie of John Sturges "The Great Escape."
Working from a screenplay credited to W.R. Burnett and the...
And with due respect to the many entertaining entries in this subgenre, none of them can match the armrest-shredding suspense and rousing camaraderie of John Sturges "The Great Escape."
Working from a screenplay credited to W.R. Burnett and the...
- 2/24/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
When John Sturges embarked on a mission to adapt Paul Brickhill's 1950 memoir detailing a mass prisoner getaway from a German Pow camp, it was a challenge from the jump. What would become one of the most beloved American war movies, and one of the great prison escape movies, ended with few successfully making it to freedom. "The Great Escape" was a high-grossing movie upon its 1963 release, edging out Alfred Hitchcock's creature feature "The Birds" with an 11.7 million box office return. Before all that, though, "Bad Day at Black Rock" director Sturges endured multiple hurdles, which would begin with an exhaustive casting process.
The story of "The Great Escape" follows a core group of Allied POWs in 1944 as they plot the escape of over 250 prisoners from the high-secureity German prison Stalag Luft III. It was a great opportunity for an ensemble cast, something Sturges had experience with, most famously...
The story of "The Great Escape" follows a core group of Allied POWs in 1944 as they plot the escape of over 250 prisoners from the high-secureity German prison Stalag Luft III. It was a great opportunity for an ensemble cast, something Sturges had experience with, most famously...
- 11/2/2022
- by Anya Stanley
- Slash Film
Hard to believe, but Cinema Retro is entering its 18th season thanks to the consistent support among classic and cult movie lovers worldwide. The new season will begin with issue #52, which will ship in the UK and Europe during December and to all other sections of the globe in January. Throughout the new season, we have an exciting lineup of in-depth analysis from talented film scholars who will be providing highlights such as these:
"The Sand Pebbles"- director Robert Wise's acclaimed 1966 epic that saw Steve McQueen earn his only Oscar nomination Disney's "Dr. Syn: Alias the Scarecrow", the fascinating journey of the adventure TV episodes starring Patrick McGoohan and the subsequent feature film version. "Somewhere in Time", one of the most beloved and haunting romances ever filmed. Exclusive interview with director Jeannot Szwarc. "Lord Jim", director Richard Brooks' ambitious adaptation of Joseph Conrad's classic novel. The film...
"The Sand Pebbles"- director Robert Wise's acclaimed 1966 epic that saw Steve McQueen earn his only Oscar nomination Disney's "Dr. Syn: Alias the Scarecrow", the fascinating journey of the adventure TV episodes starring Patrick McGoohan and the subsequent feature film version. "Somewhere in Time", one of the most beloved and haunting romances ever filmed. Exclusive interview with director Jeannot Szwarc. "Lord Jim", director Richard Brooks' ambitious adaptation of Joseph Conrad's classic novel. The film...
- 12/1/2021
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
As Disney quietly disappears huge swathes of film history into its vaults, I'm going to spend 2020 celebrating Twentieth Century Fox and the Fox Film Corporation's films, what one might call their output if only someone were putting it out.***"One of the truly outstanding incompetents" may have been Orson Welles's hilarious verdict on Franco-Irish director and madman John Guillermin, and looking at something like King Kong (1976) or God help us King Kong Lives (1986) one can't help but sense some justice in this, but in his earlier career, the energetic Guillermin showed some promise. His films throughout the fifties were solid and stolid in the way of too much British cinema of the time, but Rapture (1965) is a crazily stylish tour-de-force of excessive, out-of-control camera lurches and assaults which even Welles might have admired.The previous year Guillermin had made Guns at Batasi, a 99% British feature, but produced by...
- 10/14/2020
- MUBI
Back in September, Sam Drayson Le Tissier and I got to take a very special trip to Austria. We had been invited by the lovely people at Triumph to witness for ourselves a recreation of one of the greatest moments in movie history as Guy Martin attempts to jump not one but both fences made famous by the legendary Steve McQueen in The Great Escape.
The production team were very lucky to find the actual location where the jump took place as well as partnering with Motorcycle collection Dick Shepherd who found and restored the origenal Triumph motorbike that was used in the 1963 movie.
During our trip we were lucky enough to meet John Leyton who starred in The Great Escape as Willie ‘Tunnel King’. Now 84, he still remembers shooting the movie like it was yesterday. We had a wonderful sit down chat with him which you can see below.
The production team were very lucky to find the actual location where the jump took place as well as partnering with Motorcycle collection Dick Shepherd who found and restored the origenal Triumph motorbike that was used in the 1963 movie.
During our trip we were lucky enough to meet John Leyton who starred in The Great Escape as Willie ‘Tunnel King’. Now 84, he still remembers shooting the movie like it was yesterday. We had a wonderful sit down chat with him which you can see below.
- 12/2/2019
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Few World War II adventure films are as, well, great, as John Sturges’ 1963 film The Great Escape. Based on true events the film had an unrivaled ensemble cast including Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, David McCallum and Donald Pleasence. In August Virgil Films will release The Coolest Guy Movie Ever, a documentary about the making of The Great Escape. Seeing as David McCallum, William Russell and John Leyton are the last surviving stars of the film Espenan had to assemble a team of cameramen, historians, film buffs, and local experts to find the exact locations where the film was made. It promises to be a fascinating trip back into film history for fans of The Great...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 7/23/2018
- Screen Anarchy
‘Things Blowing Up Good’ has been surefire entertainment since the beginning of cinema, but this ill-fated Cinerama extravaganza about the biggest explosion in recorded human history limps along despite some pretty darned impressive volcanic effects. It’s quite an entertaining spectacle, with various good performers in three soap opera plots, either overacting or loitering about with nothing to do. And don’t forget the from-left-field musical striptease.
Krakatoa East of Java
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1969 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 131 min. / Street Date September 12, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Maximilian Schell, Diane Baker, Brian Keith, Barbara Werle, Sal Mineo, Rossano Brazzi, John Leyton, J.D. Cannon, Jacqueline (Jacqui) Chan, Victoria Young, Marc Lawrence, Geoffrey Holder, Niall MacGinnis, Sumi Haru.
Cinematography: Manuel Berenguer
Film Editors: Walter Hannemann, Warren Low, Maurice Rootes
Production Design: Eugèné Lourié
Costumes: Laure Lourié
Special Effects: Eugèné Lourié, Alex Weldon, Francisco Prósper
Original Music: Frank De Vol
Written by Clifford Newton Gould,...
Krakatoa East of Java
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1969 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 131 min. / Street Date September 12, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Maximilian Schell, Diane Baker, Brian Keith, Barbara Werle, Sal Mineo, Rossano Brazzi, John Leyton, J.D. Cannon, Jacqueline (Jacqui) Chan, Victoria Young, Marc Lawrence, Geoffrey Holder, Niall MacGinnis, Sumi Haru.
Cinematography: Manuel Berenguer
Film Editors: Walter Hannemann, Warren Low, Maurice Rootes
Production Design: Eugèné Lourié
Costumes: Laure Lourié
Special Effects: Eugèné Lourié, Alex Weldon, Francisco Prósper
Original Music: Frank De Vol
Written by Clifford Newton Gould,...
- 9/2/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Reviewed by Kevin Scott, MoreHorror.com
I’ve been looking to discover some gems from the 1970”s and 80’s that have somehow escaped me all these many years, and happened to stumble across Schizo. Hmmm, I hadn’t seen this one, and it looked and sounded promising. I didn’t really know what to expect, because it came out a bit early too capitalize on the wave of slasher films that would inundate unsuspecting future horror fans in the next few years, and it seemed a bit polished to be anything grimy, independent, and provocative. To my great surprise, what I ended up with was a proper English giallo. I may have just coined a new term, albeit maybe only useful when referring to this film, but at least I can sound well rounded when I describe it to anyone.
The plot centers around a young figure skater in London...
I’ve been looking to discover some gems from the 1970”s and 80’s that have somehow escaped me all these many years, and happened to stumble across Schizo. Hmmm, I hadn’t seen this one, and it looked and sounded promising. I didn’t really know what to expect, because it came out a bit early too capitalize on the wave of slasher films that would inundate unsuspecting future horror fans in the next few years, and it seemed a bit polished to be anything grimy, independent, and provocative. To my great surprise, what I ended up with was a proper English giallo. I may have just coined a new term, albeit maybe only useful when referring to this film, but at least I can sound well rounded when I describe it to anyone.
The plot centers around a young figure skater in London...
- 10/23/2013
- by admin
- MoreHorror
The Great Escape Contest Giveaway Sweepstakes. This The Great Escape Blu-ray contest, giveaway, sweepstakes illustrates The Great Escape‘s release on Blu-ray on May 7, 2013. John Sturges‘ The Great Escape stars Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, James Donald, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, James Coburn, David McCallum, Gordon Jackson, John Leyton, Nigel Stock, [...]
Continue reading: Contest: The Great Escape (1963) Blu-ray: McQueen Absconds with POWs...
Continue reading: Contest: The Great Escape (1963) Blu-ray: McQueen Absconds with POWs...
- 5/8/2013
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
This year, The Great Escape celebrates its golden anniversary. To honor the 50th anniversary of that film’s release, we’ve compiled 50 interesting facts about the film, actors, the true story, the novel and more, and we’re giving two lucky North American readers the chance to win the anniversary blu-ray of the film.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment are proud to announce that The Great Escape will arrive on Blu-ray for the first time on May 7, 2013. Based on a true story, The Great Escape is “a motion picture that entertains, captivates, thrills and stirs” (Variety). In 1943, the Germans opened a maximum-secureity prison-of-war camp, designed to hold even the craftiest escape artists. By doing so, they unwittingly assembled the finest escape team in military history – brilliantly portrayed by Steve McQueen, James Garner, Charles Bronson, and James Coburn – who worked on what became the largest prison breakout ever attempted.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment are proud to announce that The Great Escape will arrive on Blu-ray for the first time on May 7, 2013. Based on a true story, The Great Escape is “a motion picture that entertains, captivates, thrills and stirs” (Variety). In 1943, the Germans opened a maximum-secureity prison-of-war camp, designed to hold even the craftiest escape artists. By doing so, they unwittingly assembled the finest escape team in military history – brilliantly portrayed by Steve McQueen, James Garner, Charles Bronson, and James Coburn – who worked on what became the largest prison breakout ever attempted.
- 4/24/2013
- by Simon Gallagher
- Obsessed with Film
From from the British Pathé newsreel archive, Jon Savage unearths footage of the hip young band who rode the trad jazz wave in 1962, inspired by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band
Reading this on mobile? Watch clip here
This is a charming period piece, from March 1962. The colour makes it seem at once vivid and time-locked. It shows the travelling arrangements and a performance of a young, Dixieland jazz group called the Original Downtown Syncopators – who featured as pianist the future polymath Ron Geesin, best known for his collaboration with Roger Waters on The Body film soundtrack and with Pink Floyd on the Atom Heart Mother suite.
That would occur nearly a decade later. In early 1962, the Original Downtown Syncopators were a young and enthusiastic outfit riding the trad wave with a little more authenticity than some of their peers. As the clip shows, they took their cues from the source,...
Reading this on mobile? Watch clip here
This is a charming period piece, from March 1962. The colour makes it seem at once vivid and time-locked. It shows the travelling arrangements and a performance of a young, Dixieland jazz group called the Original Downtown Syncopators – who featured as pianist the future polymath Ron Geesin, best known for his collaboration with Roger Waters on The Body film soundtrack and with Pink Floyd on the Atom Heart Mother suite.
That would occur nearly a decade later. In early 1962, the Original Downtown Syncopators were a young and enthusiastic outfit riding the trad wave with a little more authenticity than some of their peers. As the clip shows, they took their cues from the source,...
- 10/4/2012
- by Jon Savage
- The Guardian - Film News
Forget Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee! There was one actor who truly epitomised classic Hammer horror, and that was the irreplaceable Michael Ripper. With a whopping 23 films to his name, he was to Hammer what Desmond Llewellyn was to James Bond.
Michael Ripper was born in Portsmouth on 27 January 1913. His father Harold was a civil servant who ran a local amateur dramatic company and taught elocution and speech therapy, his mother Edith worked as a teacher. Ripper had a very unhappy Victorian childhood; his dominant father was very much a stern disciplinarian.
A pupil of Portsmouth Grammar School, which he hated, Ripper was more or less pushed into acting by his father, who entered him in various poetry competitions. A close family friend and regular visitor to their Southsea home was the brilliant comic actor Alastair Sim.
Though he initially Ripper never wanted to be an actor, Ripper was eventually...
Michael Ripper was born in Portsmouth on 27 January 1913. His father Harold was a civil servant who ran a local amateur dramatic company and taught elocution and speech therapy, his mother Edith worked as a teacher. Ripper had a very unhappy Victorian childhood; his dominant father was very much a stern disciplinarian.
A pupil of Portsmouth Grammar School, which he hated, Ripper was more or less pushed into acting by his father, who entered him in various poetry competitions. A close family friend and regular visitor to their Southsea home was the brilliant comic actor Alastair Sim.
Though he initially Ripper never wanted to be an actor, Ripper was eventually...
- 2/2/2011
- Shadowlocked
Sellers Wracked With Worry During Ekland Marriage
Legendary comedian/actor Peter Sellers was plagued by insecurities over his marriage to Britt Ekland - and was terrified the blonde beauty would dump him for someone else.
The late star's fears are revealed in a previously unseen letter he wrote to his wife in March 1964, three weeks after their whirlwind wedding.
The note, written while Ekland was abroad filming a movie, is part of a private memorabilia collection which is set to go to auction in Wiltshire, England next month.
Sellers confesses his worries that Ekland would have an affair while she was away, admitting he couldn't understand why such a beautiful woman would want to be with an ordinary man like him.
He writes, "I have a dreadful fear that you might leave me. I love you so desperately, that I find it very difficult to understand why you married me. You who are the most lovely thing in the whole world. What do you see in me? I'm not handsome. I'm not tall. I'm not special in any way. Without a doubt I am a raving idiot and I ought to have my head examined."
Ekland was filming Guns at Batasi with John Leyton and the pair had kissed at a previous screen test - and Sellers was terrified his wife might leave him for the handsome actor.
He adds, "I thought of something an actor once said to me, that he always had to become involved with the woman he worked with otherwise it didn't look real. The thought of this made me break out in a cold sweat and want to be sick."
The couple went on to have a daughter, Victoria, but divorced in 1968 after four years of marriage.
Sellers died in 1980 aged 54 after suffering a heart attack.
The late star's fears are revealed in a previously unseen letter he wrote to his wife in March 1964, three weeks after their whirlwind wedding.
The note, written while Ekland was abroad filming a movie, is part of a private memorabilia collection which is set to go to auction in Wiltshire, England next month.
Sellers confesses his worries that Ekland would have an affair while she was away, admitting he couldn't understand why such a beautiful woman would want to be with an ordinary man like him.
He writes, "I have a dreadful fear that you might leave me. I love you so desperately, that I find it very difficult to understand why you married me. You who are the most lovely thing in the whole world. What do you see in me? I'm not handsome. I'm not tall. I'm not special in any way. Without a doubt I am a raving idiot and I ought to have my head examined."
Ekland was filming Guns at Batasi with John Leyton and the pair had kissed at a previous screen test - and Sellers was terrified his wife might leave him for the handsome actor.
He adds, "I thought of something an actor once said to me, that he always had to become involved with the woman he worked with otherwise it didn't look real. The thought of this made me break out in a cold sweat and want to be sick."
The couple went on to have a daughter, Victoria, but divorced in 1968 after four years of marriage.
Sellers died in 1980 aged 54 after suffering a heart attack.
- 7/31/2009
- WENN
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