Talk:The Great Escape (film)

Characters

Suggest adding links to the pages of the real-life men the characters are based on in the descriptions of the characters. --Guylaen (talk) 12:00, 5 July 2024 (UTC)

Untitled

The aircraft escape was inspired by the true life undertaking of OSS operative, Bernard Zosch. Zosch of German decent was stationed in Berlin during much of WW II. When he was identified as a US spy and subsequently pursued by the SS, Zosch evaded capture. He entered a German military base, stole a small military aircraft, and flew safely to Spain where he successfully reunited with the OSS. Ultimately, Zosch was transported to the US where lived for the rest of his life. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2600:1700:1B80:38F0:65DC:4EA9:E590:90BC (talk) 02:55, 9 August 2023 (UTC)

The irony of Steve McQueen's famous capture - the German soldier merely wanted a short ride on the back of the motorcycle

Steve McQueen is famously making his way to the Swiss frontier on the stolen motorcycle, and encounters a group of German soldiers. Not understanding what one of them says to him, he flees and the aroused suspicion directly leads to his famous capture right on the border. Ironically I believe that the German didn't initially think McQueen was suspicious, and merely asked for a short circular ride on the back of the motorcycle - his suspicion only being aroused by McQueen fleeing instead. So had McQueen understood the simple request he would have escaped - his capture an wasn't an inevitable consequence of German precautions over the mass escape. It would take a German speaker to see that irony and I'm unsure if the director meant to be ironic, but it may be worth adding given the famous motorcycle escape attempt. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.99.210.174 (talk) 16:07, 5 December 2020 (UTC)

Alvin Vogtle

In the Alvin Vogtle article there is a source claiming that the character played by Steve McQueen was "loosely based" on former POW Alvin Vogtle. This article says the character was based on "at least three pilots" so we have some sources/evidence the character is a compilation of multiple persons. My question is this: Are there any other sources that support Vogtle as one of those multiple persons? 47.176.126.162 (talk) 01:44, 17 September 2021 (UTC)

Having asked the above question I have started to look for sources on my own and found several, the most appropriate one to my question being from the Washington Post --> https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/02/21/why-is-the-obama-administration-using-taxpayer-money-to-back-a-nuclear-plant-thats-already-being-built/ "The character Steve McQueen played in the 1963 film “The Great Escape” was based on recollections of several veterans, including Vogtle." 47.176.126.162 (talk) 02:10, 17 September 2021 (UTC)

Historical Accuracy Section

"The Historical Accuracy section states The film was largely fictional, with changes made to increase its drama and appeal to an American audience, and to serve as vehicle for its box-office stars." Actually the film was based on real events and is accuarate in many ways. Saying that it was largley fictional is really not true. It seems that the citation references a book about baseball players who became POWs. It might make sense to say something like "The film was generally accuarate, but took certain liberties, etc." If anyone has any feedback, please respond. Dwnoone1 (talk) 17:34, 12 September 2023 (UTC)

"Largely fictional" does seem misleading. I've tried to improve the section along the lines you suggested. Roundabout dog (talk) 21:12, 12 August 2024 (UTC)

F/Lt. Desmond L. Plunkett

Surprised there is no mention of Plunkett here, e.g. this source. Martinevans123 (talk) 09:09, 22 March 2024 (UTC)