‘The Great Escape’ Classic WWII Action Movie is a Hit on Free Streaming Site Pluto TV

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A beloved classic war film is currently available to watch for free, and audiences are loving it. War movies, particularly those set during World War II, really immerse viewers in the action. Films like Saving Private Ryan, Dunkirk, and Inglourious Basterds all depict soldiers battling the Nazis. But one of the best action movies ever made takes a different approach, focusing on Allied soldiers captured by the Nazis and their daring attempt to escape. The Great Escape is a timeless war classic and is widely considered an iconic action film – and featuring Steve McQueen certainly helps! It’s proving popular with viewers on a free streaming platform.

Directed by John Sturges, known for The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape tells the inspiring true story of Allied prisoners of war who bravely planned an escape from a heavily guarded camp. Their goal was to disrupt Nazi supply lines, and the events were originally documented in a book of the same name by Paul Brickhill. The film’s screenplay was crafted by W.R. Burnett and James Clavell, the author of Shogun. While based on real events, Sturges’ movie adds fictional elements. Steve McQueen stars as Hilts, nicknamed ‘The Cooler King,’ a key figure among the prisoners. What begins as a way to keep spirits up evolves into a genuine opportunity for freedom when a chance to escape presents itself.

First released in 1963, The Great Escape is widely considered a classic film. It has earned a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on reviews from both critics and audiences. Viewers continue to love the movie, giving it a 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes from over 100,000 ratings. IMDb users rank it as one of the greatest films ever made, currently at number 159 on their list.

‘The Great Escape’s Iconic Stunt Was 100% Real

You probably recognize the famous motorcycle jump from the movie The Great Escape, even if you haven’t seen the film itself. Steve McQueen’s character tries to jump his motorcycle over the camp’s barbed wire fence. What’s remarkable is that this stunt was performed live, before computer-generated imagery was commonly used in movies.

Bud Ekins, a professional stuntman, famously jumped the fence on a 1962 Triumph TR6 Trophy, using a cleverly concealed ramp to launch himself. He landed the jump perfectly. While Steve McQueen didn’t do this particular stunt, he did most of the motorcycle riding in the film, even scenes where his character wasn’t supposed to be riding.

Steve McQueen Had Multiple Roles in ‘The Great Escape’


United Artists

Though Steve McQueen didn’t do the famous motorcycle jump himself, he was a skilled rider and actively participated in the chase sequence. In fact, he performed as both the American prisoner, Hilts, and a German officer during the thrilling chase. By dressing as a Nazi and using careful film editing, the filmmakers created the illusion of McQueen chasing himself.

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2026-03-05 21:32