The Great Escape (1963) Makes Its Escape Onto Blu-ray
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment have officially announced and detailed their upcoming Blu-ray release of John Sturges‘s The Great Escape. Using an all-new high-definition transfer struck from a 4K master, the release will be available for purchase on May 7th.
In honor of its 50th anniversary, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment will host events around the world to showcase the remastered Blu-ray. The Great Escape restoration will be screened at the TCM Classic Film Festival in Los Angeles April 25-28 and the film will receive a limited theatrical re-release in cities across the globe, with additional initiatives coming throughout the year.
In 1943, the Germans opened a maximum security 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, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, and James Coburn – who worked on what became the largest prison breakout ever attempted.
The Great Escape was released in July of 1963 and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Film Editing.
The Blu-ray will include several special features, including:
- Audio Commentary by Director John Sturges, Cast & Crew
- The Great Escape: Bringing Fact to Fiction
- The Great Escape: Preparations for Freedom
- The Great Escape: The Flight to Freedom
- The Great Escape: A Standing Ovation
- The Great Escape: The Untold Story
- The Great Escape: The Untold Story – Additional Interviews
- A Real Virgil Hilts: A Man Called Jones
- Return to The Great Escape
- Original Theatrical Trailer