"The Great Escape" Steve McQueen

directed by John Sturges
USA 1963

Uneven but entertaining World War II escape drama, which even when it first appeared seemed very old-fashioned. Based on Paul Brickhill's factual account of the efforts of Allied prisoners to break out of Stalag Luft North, it contains memorable sequences and a sea of well-known faces. McQueen comes off best as 'The Cooler King'; Bronson and Garner (perhaps surprisingly) give good support; Coburn is totally miscast as an Australian, yet turns in an amusing performance. Worth seeing the last half hour, if nothing else, for one of the best stunt sequences in years: McQueen's motor-cycle bid for freedom.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: July 4th, 1963

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DVD Comparison:

MGM (Original 2-disc) - Region 2 - PAL vs. MGM (Original) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Criterion (Laserdisc) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. MGM (SE 2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks Henrik Sylow for the PAL captures and Enrique B Chamorro for the rest!

(MGM (Original) - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs MGM (Original) - Region 1 - NTSC 2nd vs. Criterion (Laserdisc) - Region 0 - NTSC - 3rd vs. MGM (SE) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	MGM Region 2 - PAL	MGM Region 1 - NTSC	Criterion Region 0 - NTSC	MGM Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	2:45:05 (4% PAL speedup)	2:52:00	2:51:00	2:51:54
Video	2.30:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.49 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	2.69:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.12 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	2.35:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: na mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	2.30:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.14 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: MGM Region 2- PAL (Original) and MGM Region 1 (original)
Bitrate: Criterion (Laserdisc)	NOT AVAILABLE
Bitrate: MGM (SE)
Audio	English DD 5.1	English DD 2.0, French DD 2.0	English DD 2.0	English DD 5.1 & 2.0, French & Spanish 2.0
Subtitles	Croatian, Czech, Danish, English, English for hearing impaired, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Slovenian, Swedish, Turkish and none.	English, French, Spanish	none	English, French, Spanish
Features	Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.30:1 Edition Details: • 8 page booklet • The Untold Story (50 minutes) • The Untold Story: additional interviews (9 minutes) • Heroes underground (40 minutes) • The Real Virgil Hilts: A Man Called Jones (25 minutes) • Theatrical trailer (2:36) DVD Release Date: May 20th, 2002 Double Keepcase Chapters 32	Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed - 2.69:1 Edition Details: • VOB File Date 02/26/98 • 8 Page booklet • Return to The Great Escape doc. 24:06 • Theatrical Trailer 3:08 (very worn with voice over) DVD Release Date: 03/31/98 Plastic Keepcase Chapters 32	Release Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • Jacket notes by John Sturges & pencil map of Stalag Luft • Film historian Bruce Eder hosts the comm. by dir. Sturges, Reylea, Bernstein, stuntman Ekins • 1963 Theatrical Trailer • Planning an escape photos with Sturges audio track • Publicity photos • Production photo gallery • From script to screen text & photos • Continuity photos • The real Stalag Luft III photos DVD Release Date: 1991 Gatefold Jacket Chapters 36 CLICK HERE for a scan of the inside of the Criterion laserdisc jacket. It is a sketch of the camp used by Sturges during the filming	Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.30:1 Edition Details: • VOB File Date 02/10/04 • 8 Page booklet (same text, new layout) • War film expert Steven J. Rubin hosts the comm. with audio by Director, Cast, & Crew • Info. based subtitle text track • Bonus material on disc 2; • The Great Escape doc in 4 parts 46 min. • The Untold Story doc. 50 min. • The Untold Story additional interviews 9 min. • The Real Virgil Hilts: A Man Called Jones 25 min. • Return to The Great Escape doc. 24 min. • 1963 Theatrical Trailer (diff. from the prev.) 2:43 • Photo Gallery • Trailers from The Good The Bad & The Ugly, Escape from NY, Windtalkers DVD Release Date: 05/18/04 Plastic Slim Double Keepcase Chapters 32

Comments

The history of the LD transfers may bare light on the differences between the DVD transfers. The Criterion edition of The Great Escape was transferred digitally from a 35mm inter-positive in its correct wide-screen aspect ratio of around 2.35:1, and released with the approval of director John Sturges who states that the (approx.) 2.30:1 framing is the proper one. The first MGM LD aspect ratio was too wide (about 2.59:1) because The Great Escape was initially filmed that way so that Sturges could make framing adjustments later, also the original print used for the MGM LD did not contain soundtrack information thereby displaying a wider image. The soundtrack was mastered digitally from a 35mm magnetic track afterward. MGM may have used the same methodology for the original DVD transfer. Notice that the old DVD has more image on the left and right vs. the old LD has more info mostly on the left only.

- Enrique B Chamorro

The Region 2 release is in the correct aspect ratio and superior to the original Region 1 release (and is anamorphic!) but is not as sharp as the New SE (which can tend to look saturated. I see some edge enhancement). The colors are also not a vibrant. The old Region 1 release shows some damage marks. Colors match closest to the Region 2 and the new SE, where the original Region 1 looked a little washed out. Contrast and shadow detail are best on the new SE as is the audio. Extras look to be almost exactly the same in the R2 and SE, but I think the Region 1 SE has thrown in some extra trailers and a photo gallery (looks to be the same booklet). Glad to see this film finally done correctly although it has too much digital manipulation (any is usually too much!)! It's a been a long wait in Region 1 - Region 2 has had the correct aspect ratio and a 2nd disc of extras for over 2 years!

- Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

(MGM (Original) - Region 2- PAL - LEFT vs. MGM (Original) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)

(Criterion (Laserdisc) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. MGM (SE) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)

Subtitle Samples