The Great Escape at 50

[Talyn]

Today marks the 80th anniversary of "The Great Escape," the largest Western Allied prisoner-of-war breakout of the Second World War (only surpassed by the mass escape of 300 Jews-- spearheaded by a force of 100 Soviet POWs from the extermination camp at Sobibor in 1943).

The Great Escape at 50

Today marks the 80th anniversary of “The Great Escape,” the largest Western Allied prisoner-of-war breakout of the Second World War (only surpassed by the mass escape of 300 Jews–…

laststandonzombieisland.com

The True Story of The Great Escape - TogetherWeServed Blog

More than likely, many of us have seen the 1963 American World War II epic film "The Great Escape" based on a real escape by British Commonwealth prisoners of war from a German POW Camp during World War II. There are a lot of different myths of it. But how much of what we know is true?

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The Great Escape

"A tense, thrilling, fabulous tale." ― Philadelphia Inq…

www.goodreads.com

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Yeah, great movie about a daring escape! There's one little detail we need to overlook. McQueen used a '61 Triumph instead of a 40s BMW to make the jump. Actually, his stuntman made the jump.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Lock n' Load]

One of the all-time greatest war films based on actual events. Steve McQueen was also an accomplished motorcycle desert racer.

 

[Snake45]

One of the all-time greatest war films based on actual events. Steve McQueen was also an accomplished motorcycle desert racer.

The McQueen character, Virgil Hilts, was the only 100% fictional character in the whole movie. Everyone else was either a real person, or a composite of real people. The producers thought they needed an American superstar or the movie wouldn't sell here, so, The Cooler King was born.

 

[Shibadog]

Hi,

Yeah, great movie about a daring escape! There's one little detail we need to overlook. McQueen used a '61 Triumph instead of a 40s BMW to make the jump. Actually, his stuntman made the jump.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Only because the production company refused to let him. McQueen competed on the US ISDT team. The King of Cool was the real deal.