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1963 | Top 10 Films - "The Great Escape" [Ep. 24]

Author
Joe Rubenstein
Published
Mon 11 Sep 2023
Episode Link
https://www.realtime1960s.com/podcast/episode/24e3c1c6/1963-or-top-10-films-pt-4-the-great-escape-ep-24

In this episode, we move on to our seventh-ranked film of 1963, "The Great Escape," which marked career turning points for Steve McQueen, James Garner, and James Coburn. 

In this episode:

- Background on director John Sturges [2:07] - Difficulties with Steve McQueen [5:58] - How Sturges helped viewers remember so many characters [8:31] - Where the filmmakers deviated from the facts of the 1944 escape [11:44] - Placing the film in the context of 1963 [15:15] - Scenes deleted from the final cut [18:38] - Facts on casting, storytelling structure, musical soundtrack [22:30]

For an additional podcast on McQueen's role in this film and in two others, click here.

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