The Great Escape

This film is amazing. I've seen it several times and it draws me in whenever it's on AMC. Fantastic - yes, it takes a few liberties with the true story (including Steve McQueen's motorcycle scene, which was an entirely self-aggrandizing act - but tremendously awesome nonetheless) but it is a great film. Allied chutzpah, sticking it to the Nazis, lots of comic relief, a fantastic cast with Attenborough, McQueen, Garner, and Bronson - just fantastic.

I first saw this when I was probably ten or so, when it came on TV and my Dad told me that it was a great movie. I listened and watched - as should you*.

*If you happen to like awesome '60's WWII movies packed with huge stars that are more or less factually accurate but contain some Hollywood glitz yet are tremendously patriotic and uplifting and if you don't shed a few tears at the end of which you are a soulless shell of a human being.

This was back in the glory days, when they made legitimate epics which spanned 3+ hrs. of film with nary a wasted scene.

Also - the music!