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Film · 2023

The Great Escaper

Directed by Ol Parker · starring Michael Caine, Glenda Jackson and Wolf Kahler

  • 1 h 36 min
  • Drama
  • UKUSA
  • Released in the UK 5 October 2023
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Synopsis

'The Great Escaper' is a British biographical drama written by Oliver Parker and directed by William Ivory. It is based in the real story of Bernard Jordan, a retired veteran who fought on World War II and, at his 89 years of age, "escaped" his retirement home where he was living to travel to France, and attend the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of D-Day. It stars Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson, in the last film of the actress before dying.

Bernard Jordan (Caine) and Irene (Jackson) have been married for sixty years and they now live together in a retirement home. When Jordan finds out it's going to be the 70th anniversary of World Ward II D-Day, he decides to escape his retirement home and travel alone to Normandy, in France. 'The Great Escaper' not only explores the adventures of a ninety year-old man, but his necessity to confront his long lasting traumas after fighting on a war, as well as celebrate a livelong of long alongside the same woman.

The cast is completed with Will Fletcher and Laura Marcus as the young Bernard and Irene, as well as John Standing, Jackie Clune, Danielle Vitalis, Brennan Reece and Wolf Kahler.

It is not the last film about this subject, because around the same event is being shot 'The Last Rifleman', starring Pierce Brosnan.

Where to watch The Great Escaper

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The essentials

Runtime
96 min1 hour and 36 minutes
How long is The Great Escaper?
1 hour and 36 minutes (96 minutes).
When was The Great Escaper released in the UK?
It was released in the UK on 5 October 2023.
Who directed The Great Escaper?
Ol Parker.
Who is in The Great Escaper?
It stars Michael Caine, Glenda Jackson, Wolf Kahler and Laura Marcus.
Where can I watch The Great Escaper?
In the UK it is available free on BBC iPlayer.
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Cast

Full cast (10)
Director
Ol Parker

Videos and trailers

See the video
'The Great Escaper' Spanish trailer 2:2623 October 2024

Photos and posters

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Reviews

All 3 reviews

What the critics say average 8.0 from 3 outlets

  • 8.0 The GuardianPeter Bradshaw "Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson give off an unequalled class (...) a touching true story". Read
  • 8.0 EmpireLou Thomas "A moving, nuanced drama that offers much more than nostalgia (...) and features superb performances by Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson". Read
  • 8.0 The TelegraphTim Robey "Glenda Jackson is riveting in her latest film (...) The late actress is a force of nature to the end". Read

Trivia

  • Glenda Jackson last film

    It is Glenda Jackson last film. The actress died con June 2023, nine months after shooting all her scenes in the movie. The director showed her the film in a private screening with Michael Cane a few weeks before her passing.

  • Shot entirely in the UK

    Although the story is also set in France, the film was entirely shot in the UK to avoid COVID risks and minimize travel due to the cast old age: Caine was 89 years old and Jackson 86 when shooting the film.

  • Caine and Jackson reunite onscreen 47 years later

    It is the second film in which Michael Cane and Glenda Jackson appear together. The other one was 'The Romantic Englishwoman' in 1975, 47 years earlier.

  • The film used by Michael Cane to announce his retirement

    During the movie première in London in September 2023, Michael Cane declared he was retiring because "I am bloody 90 now, and I can't walk properly and all that. I soft of am retired now". However, it won't be his last film because he will start shooting in 2024 a new film about Charles Darwing.

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