The 2023 production of The Great Escaper has it all. Laughter, tears and, at the end of the film, feeling good. Don’t believe me? Just ask Michael Caine. Those are the words he uses to describe this “based on real life” tale.
the story
Old age pensioner Bernie Jordan (Caine) lives with his wife Irene (played to perfection by the late Glenda Jackson). They are in a nursing home. Bernie, a Royal Navy veteran of the D-Day landings of WWII wants to attend the 70th anniversary ceremonies.
In France.
Irene gives him permission and Bernie gets himself off to France. Along the way he meets another veteran. RAF pilot Arthur Howard-Johnson is also taking his first trip to the ceremonies.
Back in England, the nursing home are in a panic. The police are notified that Bernie is missing.
It Works:
Behind the Camera
Actor/writer/producer William Ivory captures the spirit of Bernard Jordan’s adventure. As shown by The Great Escaper, in 2014 the former Royal Navy veteran went to Normandy off his own back. Ivory lets us see the story behind the story that so enraptured the media.
Reading between the lines, it can be seen as an attempt to silence the demons for all those suffering from PTSD.
Director Oliver Parker puts the entire thing together with a deftness that is admirable. He allows the pacing to stay in line with an aged populace of protagonists. Even in the flashbacks, the pace is almost languid. It is perfect for this story.
Cinematographer Christopher Ross and Editor Paul Tothill work together brilliantly to make Parker’s direction almost flawless.
The music by Craig Armstrong is spot on. Whether reliving the past, both good and bad, or setting the scene for the present, the music makes us feel each moment.
Nick Palmer and Charlotte Hutchings, Production Design and Art Direction respectively, work like a well executed team. Along with Set Direction by Ellie Pash and Costume Design by Emma Fryer every little bit of this film looks authentic.
These folk all combined to make The Great Escaper work like a well tuned watch.
In Front of the Camera
Before lauding the actors and their performances, I must just talk about that dance sequence. In the initial dancing segment, the band leader: Played by Paul Bigley, is a dead ringer for the multi-talented Eric Sykes. If there is ever a project that requires a Sykes “look-a-like” Bigley is the man.
It goes without saying that Caine, the late Dame Glenda Jackson and John Standing (as the alcoholic former RAF pilot) command the screen almost effortlessly. These veterans of a different sort know their craft. *Caine is also a veteran of the military sort. He fought in the Korean War as a British conscript. He talks about the experience in his first autobiography)
The rest of the cast stand up smartly and whack this homage to the real Bernie Jordan out of the cricket pitch.
Laura Marcus and Will Fletcher; young Irene and Bernie, both bring a sort of magic to the proceedings. The tale of romance set during the war is almost breathtaking in its simplicity and sincerity.
Victor Oshin as Scott; the Army vet of a different war nails his role. As the physically and mentally damaged ex-warrior who wants to help, he feels real.
Lastly: Wolf Kahler as Henrich is to be commended on using his lifetime of experience as a character actor to almost steal the scene in the gasthouse. Kahler, a veteran of over 114 productions has little in the way of dialogue, but he does not need it. Casting wisely chose this actor and it helps the story. #nosmallparts
The verdict
The Great Escaper is a solid 5 star treat. It runs one hour and 37 minutes and has a slow enough delivery that we can savour every bite of this delicious little offering. Sadly, there are no streaming platforms offering this film. It can be ordered via the internet but check on the region setting before buying though.
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