You know the theme tune. You know the scene with the motorcycle. The Great Escape is one of the cinema's most famous movies - and it also happens to be one of its best prison films, too, despite many claims that it's an escape or heist film. Can't it be all three? Yes, you need to put aside three hours to watch it and you've probably seen it more times than you can count on TV at Christmas, and yet there's no denying The Great Escape deserves a place on this list. There's something of the juvenile about John Sturges' film, of course, as though it were being played out in the backyard by a bunch of kids with brilliant imaginations. But that, essentially, is part of its eternal charm. In case you need reminding of the plot, The Great Escape - based on a true story - concerns the Allied prisoners of a German P.O.W. camp and their attempts to escape. Featuring great performances from Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, Donald Pleasance and Charles Bronson, there's a reason this one is always on at Christmas.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
