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The Great Escape Comparison

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Compare and Contrast of The Great Escape The film, The Great Escape, shows just what it was like to be a prisoner in a German camp during World War II. This camp was filled with people who had already escaped from previous camps, because the Germans had decided to put them all in one place. Using mostly materials they could gather from inside the camp and gifts sent from the Red Cross they were able to construct three escape tunnels. After months of digging and keeping the tunnels a secret from the Germans one of the tunnels was finally used to aid in the escape of 76 prisoners. The film, The Great Escape, very accurately portrays the real life event of prisoners of war during World War II and their attempt of escaping from Stalag Luft III, …show more content…

For example, shortly after the escape actor Steve McQueen uses a motorcycle to escape pursuing Germans and tries his best to cross the border. But, according to Emma Mason, “Of all the scenes in The Great Escape, that of Virgil Hilts, played by Steve McQueen, trying to jump over the border wire on his motorbike while being chased by hundreds of Schmeisser-toting Germans is the most memorable. It’s certainly a thrilling sequence, but it has no basis in truth. None of those who escaped from Stalag Luft III even used so much as a bicycle to get away “ (Mason). One big difference between the film and real life is that it portrays American POWs escaping among the other 76 prisoners. But as it turns out Americans only helped dig the tunnels and did not take part in the actual escape, as said by Jane Warren, “However, perhaps one of the greatest liberties taken is the suggestion that members of the American armed forces were among the 76 escapees, of whom 73 were recaptured by the Gestapo. In reality, while American officers had worked on the construction of the tunnels, by the time of the escape all the American prisoners had been moved to a separate compound .” Even though there are a few differences between the film and real event, Sturges does an excellent job and showing what the people in that prison camp did to get out of

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