The Great Escaper

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The Great Escaper

2023

1h 36m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

38 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

In the summer of 2014 -- the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings -- octogenarian Bernie Jordan (Michael Caine) made global headlines. He'd staged a "great escape" from his care home to join fellow war veterans on a beach in Normandy, commemorating their fallen comrades. It was a story that captured the imagination of the world -- Bernie seemed to embody the defiant, "can-do" spirit of a generation that was fast disappearing. But of course, it wasn’t the whole story. It was the story we all tell ourselves to make war and old age bearable. The bitter-sweet script explores the reality with wit and a very big heart. Bernie's adventure, spanning a mere 48 hours, also marked the culmination of his 60-year marriage to Irene (Glenda Jackson) -- the story celebrates their love without sentimentality and with an eye to the lessons we can all learn from the Greatest Generation.

Critics Consensus

Sweet without straying into sentimentality, The Great Escaper gains added resonance thanks to a pair of stellar performances from Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson.

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Barry Hertz

Globe and Mail

While not remotely the best project of either Caine or Jackson’s career -- it wouldn’t crack the Top 10 -- the film is a slight but sweet ode to a particular flavour of Britannia that will leave its target audience in sentimental shambles.

May 30, 2024

Full Review

Stephen Romei

The Australian

For that reason, it in tandem explores – particularly through Jackson’s superb performance as Rene – the privilege of making it to old age, especially with someone you love.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 9, 2024

Full Review

Hannah Strong

London Evening Standard

[Caine and Jackson] sell even the more on-the-nose moments in William Ivory’s script, and add gravitas to what could easily have been a patronising narrative.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 10, 2023

Full Review

Blai Morell

Fotogramas

But... why do you want more when you have two acting beasts sharing that last cinematic journey together? [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 3/5

Nov 8, 2024

Full Review

Ernesto Diezmartinez

Letras Libres

This is a rather modest and simple drama, but it is one of the most important films of the year: it offers the last opportunity to see two legends of cinema together on the screen.[Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 22, 2024

Full Review

Stefan Pape

Common Sense Media

Oliver Parker's credit that The Great Escaper avoids these pitfalls, yet remains both moving and effective. Parker never patronizes Bernard, nor does he lean into any over-the-top patriotic nonsense, something so often found in movies that are similar.

Jul 9, 2024

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Julian P

Just fabulous. Not just brilliantly acted with an excellent script but it's one of those movies you can call "important". Not only does everyone under 90 need to understand some of the challenges of the last period of life but the specific issue of war veterans requires far more appreciation than any of us give it. The fact that the film delivers an education as well as a warming story speaks volumes.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/21/24

Full Review

bob c

Made me squirm. A massive embarrassment for all concerned. Sentimental without achieving it. Poor old Glenda’s last outing. It seems obligatory for this genre of English films - and there’s a big bunch of em - to portray older people as idiots cared for by lovely Third World immigrants. Gerroff.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/10/24

Full Review

Sparky K

A perfect last film for Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson. Wanted to see this for ages. Brilliant performances from both of them. Had me in tears. See it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/14/24

Full Review

Gillian J

A slick professional beautifully told story with world class actors

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/13/24

Full Review

Alejandro E

Quién iba pensar que una historia así de sencilla pero agridulce está inspirada en hechos reales? Lo que llega al corazón son las actuaciones de Caine y Jackson, bastante estimulantes.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/11/24

Full Review

Hero W

It isn't a fast-paced movie, but it's such a nice movie and it has a really emotional story line.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/01/24

Full Review

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Oliver Parker

Director

Michael Caine

Bernard Bernie Jordan

Glenda Jackson

Irene Jordan

Danielle Vitalis

Adele

John Standing

Actor

Will Fletcher

Young Bernard

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Synopsis

In the summer of 2014 -- the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings -- octogenarian Bernie Jordan (Michael Caine) made global headlines. He'd staged a "great escape" from his care home to join fellow war veterans on a beach in Normandy, commemorating their fallen comrades. It was a story that captured the imagination of the world -- Bernie seemed to embody the defiant, "can-do" spirit of a generation that was fast disappearing. But of course, it wasn’t the whole story. It was the story we all tell ourselves to make war and old age bearable. The bitter-sweet script explores the reality with wit and a very big heart. Bernie's adventure, spanning a mere 48 hours, also marked the culmination of his 60-year marriage to Irene (Glenda Jackson) -- the story celebrates their love without sentimentality and with an eye to the lessons we can all learn from the Greatest Generation.

Director: Oliver Parker
Producer: Robert Bernstein, Douglas Rae
Screenwriter: William Ivory
Production Co: Pathe UK, Ecosse Films, Ingenious, BBC Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 36m