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Posted: **Fri Sep 27, 2024 1:37 pm**

Director John Sturges reunites with The Magnificent Seven stars Steve McQueen, James Coburn and Charles Bronson in this timeless adaptation of Paul Brickhill’s World War II memoir of an audacious prisoner breakout. Stalag Luft III: an impenetrable camp built to hold the most persistent escapees. Under the ruthless vigilance of the Nazi guards, a multinational group of prisoners must work together to enact their daring plan: to break out of the camp, forcing the Germans to divert precious military resources towards apprehending them. But getting beyond the camp’s barbed wire fences and gun-towers is only the beginning. Once out, the escapees must make the perilous journey to the border, all the while evading the relentless pursuit of their former captors. Beautifully shot by Oscar®-winning cinematographer Daniel L. Fapp (West Side Story) and featuring a rousing, infectiously hummable score by Elmer Bernstein (The Ten Commandments), The Great Escape remains one of the most beloved Hollywood historical action movies – a testament to human ingenuity, camaraderie under pressure and indomitability of the spirit.

3-DISC LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sam Hadley
• Collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Barry Forshaw, Neil Mitchell, Wickham Clayton and Mark Cunliffe
• Fold-out double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sam Hadley

DISC 1 (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY) – THE GREAT ESCAPE

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Newly restored original lossless mono soundtrack
• Optional lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing • Audio commentary by filmmaker/historian Steve Mitchell and Steven Jay Rubin, author of Combat Films: American Realism
• Audio commentary featuring director John Sturges and members of the cast and crew, moderated by Steven Jay Rubin • Theatrical trailer

DISC 2 (BLU-RAY) – BONUS FEATURES

• The Real Great Escape – author and historian Guy Walters separates fact from fiction in this brand new interview
• The Great Escapism – brand new appreciation of the film by Jose Arroyo, Associate Professor in Film and Television Studies at the University of Warwick
• The Great Composer – brand new interview with composer/author Neil Brand, discussing Elmer Bernstein and his iconic score
• Freedom Forged – critic and educator Rich Johnson explores the film’s place within the war movie canon in this brand new visual essay
• Michael Sragow on The Great Escape – 2020 interview exploring the career of John Sturges and the making of the film
• Heroes Underground – 2001 four-part documentary exploring the making of the film and the events which inspired it, featuring interviews with former POWs
• The Real Virgil Hilts – 2001 featurette interviewing former POW David M. Jones, widely seen as the inspiration for Steve McQueen’s character
• The Untold Story – 2001 documentary exploring the planning and execution of the real-life escape
• The Untold Story: Additional Interviews
• Return to The Great Escape – 1993 featurette exploring the making of the film • Image gallery

DISC 3 (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY) – THE GREAT ESCAPE II: THE UNTOLD STORY [LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE]

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentation in SDR
• Original lossless 2.0 stereo soundtrack
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Original Trailer

Posted: **Fri Sep 27, 2024 1:56 pm**

The specs haven't been listed but it looks like Arrow did their own HDR grade (or did a new 4K restoration), and it looks like the second film is on 4K as well. Would have expected the second film to receive a blu-only disc, so it's nice to see that they went the extra mile and put it on 4K.

Posted: **Fri Sep 27, 2024 2:18 pm**

I'm surprised they put that second film on UHD too, I've put off seeing it for years.

Posted: **Fri Sep 27, 2024 9:53 pm**

what I'm really impressed by is the sheer level of complete that Arrow went to here - I realy appreciate that they not only included the Kino/MGM extras*, but they nearly included all of Criterion's, even getting Michael Sragow's interview from that disc. I'm actually impressed as usually Criterion never share extras with Arrow nowadays, which usually ends up being alright as I appreciate the different approaches the two labels take to their packages and it's usually well worth owning both. Criterion usually for the closer look at the production, Arrow for the more scholarly angle...I've double dipped for Silence of the Lambs, Dekalog, Time Bandits, and Fear and Loathing among others. usually with an Arrow UHD+Criterion BD combo, though I reversed that for Fear and Loathing since the Arrow LE Bluray had more extras and the Criterion UHD had a look more of our members were partial to

if one is curious for The Great Escape, the only things Arrow didn't carry over was the Sturges commentary from Criterion, which as usual for their old laserdisc era director tracks, is essential if you ask me. helps that Bruce Eder was basically in charge of it and he rules. but otherwise this looks to be a smashing release - this movie is a favorite of mine I inherited from my father (because of course!) but it's awesome and holds up very well. excited to see Arrow's four new video essays and the HDR grade. will be dumping the Kino, and I hope to continue that with The Dollars Trilogy and The Apartment in short order

*props to Kino for licensing out their Rubin/Mitchell commentary - they did the same with Tim Lucas' for Silence of the Lambs and I appreciate them having no issue licensing out their extras to the UK labels. I hope if Arrow do go forth with The Apartment on UHD, they bring over Joseph McBride's track!

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