The bike jump in the great escape is legendary, but sturges film is a masterpiece in its own right, based on the true story of allied airmens. The title of the picture i presumed to be showing the great escape jump. At one point, the pows even sing the christian carol, o come all ye faithful as they celebrate christmas. The great escape is a 1963 american epic war film starring steve mcqueen, james garner and richard attenborough, and featuring james donald, charles bronson, donald pleasence, james coburn and hannes messemer. The motorcycle used for the famous jump in the steve mcqueen classic the great escape has gone on display for the first time. Steve mcqueen performed all of his own motorcycle stunts in the great escape with the exception of his characters final jump over a 6ft barbed wire fence. The reallife escape preparations involved 600 men working for well over a year. Did steve mcqueen perform his own stunts in the great escape. Guy martin recreates steve mcqueens the great escape jump. Mount up on the great escape bike posted on 22nd april, 2016 by mark hinchliffe the owners of the triumph tr6 trophy bird motorcycle used in the 1963 film, the great escape, is allowing the public to sit on the bike in the name of charity. Motorcycle from steve mcqueen flick the great escape surfaces. The three bikes used in the movie were all triumphs650cc tr6r trophies, to be exactsince period correct, former wehrmacht bmw r71s.
Things we didnt know about the movie the great escape. Not just steve mcqueen,although his performance is brilliant,but also james garner, james coburn, richard attenborough, charles bronson and in this film,one of the greatest roles donald pleasance,playing the forger. The great escape starts off slowly but is so full of detail. All interiors were filmed at the bavaria studio in munich. The great escapes most celebrated scene in which steve mcqueen, playing a wwii pow, eludes his german pursuers by jumping a section of barbedwire fence on a motorcycle was, of course, a hollywood contrivance, added to secure the participation of steve mcqueen, whom the producers knew was a speedjunkie and gear head. The motorcycle scenes were not based on real life but were added at steve mcqueens suggestion.
The film is based on paul brickhill s 1950 nonfiction book of the same name, a firsthand account of the. Bud ekins, a pioneering champion offroad motorcyclist and a veteran stuntman who doubled for steve mcqueen on the famous motorcycle jump in the great escape, has died. The great escape movie photo print poster textless film art steve. Corporal nutting, one of the masterminds, requested and received an oyster 3525 chronograph a more upmarket model than the ones favoured by most pows, which he used to measure the frequency of german patrols.
Nov 01, 2017 the motorcycle used for the famous jump in the steve mcqueen classic the great escape has gone on display for the first time. The motorcycles used during chase scene in film the great escape were 1961 triumph tr6 trophy models disguised as german bmw r75. Here he tries to outwit the germans on his motorcycle. The great escape image of steve mcqueen as the cooler king astride his motorcycle has entered silverscreen iconography, alongside brando on his bike from the wild one. The great escape hinges on an almost threehour runtime, but theres never a dull moment. Exteriors for the escape sequences were shot in the rhine country and areas near the north sea, and steve mcqueens motorcycle scenes were filmed in fussen on the austrian border and the alps. Sep, 2018 film buffs have voted steve mcqueens dramatic fencejump in the 1963 classic the great escape the greatest movie motorcycle scene ever.
It was the mass escape of allied soldiers from the german prisoner of war camp stalag luft iii, the story of which was forever immortalised in the 1963 film the great escape, starring steve mcqueen. Based on the true story of prisoners escaping a german pow camp during wwii, the movie combines many elements of history and excitement. Original the great escape bike displayed in uk rideapart. The triumph tr6 trophy took about two months to restore and 95% of the. Great escape 1963 motorcycle steve mcqueen rare poster. Allied prisoners of war plan for several hundred of their number to escape from a german camp during world war ii. The modern for the time motorcycles were modified to look like germanmade bmws. The bike has been loaned to the organisers of the sowerby bridge classic bike and scooter show in the uk on may 29. Mcqueens triumph from the great escape to make rare. Hilts steve mcqueen eludes the germans on motorcycle, but is. Mcqueen rode the tr6 in the world war two film but the famous 12ft barbedwire fence jump was performed by stunt double, bud ekins. Motorcycle scene the great escape, 1963, steve mcqueen. The tt special 650 triumph from the great escape for the filming of the climactic scene in the great escape in which steve as virgil hilts hijacks a german warbike and becomes the center of one of cinemas most famous chase scenes, a little bit of improvising was done, as explained by steve to writer william nolan.
The motorcycles used during chase scene in film the great escape were 1961 triumph tr6 trophy models disguised as german bmw r75 motorcycles. A great story,a good length,tension,it is a ww2 movie and the actors give top performances. Mcqueens great escape triumph motorcycle roars back into. The best motorcycle moments on the big screen, starring steve mcqueen, peter fonda, and ewan mcgregor. The film builds to its ultimate finale, and has one of the greatest action sequences in history. The final jump was performed by his stunt double, bud etkins 1. Film buffs have voted steve mcqueens dramatic fencejump in the 1963 classic the great escape the greatest movie motorcycle scene ever. Featuring an unequalled ensemble cast in a rivetingly authentic truelife scenario set to elmer bernsteins admirable music, this picture is both a template for. Mount up on the great escape bike motorbike writer. The scenes include the 12 ft jump over the barbed wire fence, although it was performed by stuntman, bud ekins.
An obsession with the movie, the great escape, has led brit don whistance on a fiveyear search which has revealed several of the 1963 films famous locations, including the famous jump scene. The star of the movie, steve mcqueen, did much of the riding for the film himself, although bud ekins performed the famous jump scene as mcqueens stunt double. A pow never tried to jump a motorcycle over 20 feet of barbed wire, like steve mcqueen did in 1963s world war ii classic the great escape. The germans have the great idea to put all their problem prisoners, i. Locations from the movie the great escape foursquare. The great escape top 10 memorable movie motorcycles. Great escape buy your dream machine between october 1st, 2017 and december 31, 2017 any my17 or prior triumph motorcycle with the exception of the bobber and pay nothing until april 2018. Guy martin sets out to recreate the iconic motorcycle movie stunt at the climax of the great escape riding a custom triumph scrambler 1200. The great escape 1011 movie clip motorcycle escape 1963. The triumph tr6 trophy took about two months to restore and 95% of the original parts have been retained. Based on a real escape from stalag luft 3, this movie has it all.
Still beloved in the uk after many decades and despite the broad americanization of the actual events the movie portrays, it is a truly classic war film crafted in the style of the age. Dec 26, 2015 great escape legend steve mcqueens most iconic motorbike on sale for. The great escape, which counted mcqueen, james garner, charles bronson, james coburn, richard attenborough, donald pleasence, and david mccallum among its stars, is set during world war ii. Oct 12, 2007 bud ekins, a pioneering champion offroad motorcyclist and a veteran stuntman who doubled for steve mcqueen on the famous motorcycle jump in the great escape, has died. But their escape came at a cost, as the gestapo executed the majority of the escapees.
If you ride motorcycles and have never seen the great escape, you should rectify that oversight as soon as you can. At least some of the prisoners involved in the great escape had these watches. Mcqueens great escape triumph motorcycle roars back into the. The true story of the great escape tv shows history.
The german military used various bmw rides throughout the war, but none had survived in good enough condition to be used in the film. His resulting website, has now become a homage for. The owners of the triumph tr6 trophy bird motorcycle used in the 1963 film, the great escape, is allowing the public to sit on the bike in the name of charity. Directorproducer john sturges chose triumph motorcycles to appear in the film even though they werent authentic to wwii. The escape did have the desired effect of diverting german resources, including a doubling of the number of guards after the gestapo took over the camp from the luftwaffe. Steve mcqueen stretches some rope across a road after escaping in order to get a motorcycle. The great escape film the great escape is a 1963 american epic war film starring steve mcqueen, james garner and richard attenborough, and featuring james donald, charles bronson, donald pleasence, james coburn, and hannes messemer. Based on the true story of prisoners escaping a german pow camp during wwii, the. Triumph motorcycles great escape triumph motorcycles. This lot includes the original vintage 1963 movie poster from the cult classic film, the great escape. Its the same spot where steve mcqueen jumped a fence on a 650cc triumph tr6 bike back in 63 in the great escape movie. It also made ekins, who doubled as mcqueen, a legend among fellow riders.
The great escape has a very strong moral, patriotic worldview with very strong christian, redemptive moments of sacrifice and helping others. The motorcycle from the great escape the great escape is a movie that many of us remember watching on television during our teenage yearsif you are in your 40s or 50s anyway. Steve mcqueens the great escape motorcycle scenes youtube. Oct 10, 2007 bud ekins, a pioneering champion offroad motorcyclist and a veteran stuntman who doubled for steve mcqueen on the famous motorcycle jump in the great escape, has died. Jun 27, 2018 the great escape, which counted mcqueen, james garner, charles bronson, james coburn, richard attenborough, donald pleasence, and david mccallum among its stars, is set during world war ii. This is a rare movie poster because it shows steve mcqueen on the famous motorcycle jumping over the barb wires. Dick shepherd, who restored it, said it is in full working order. This original movie poster was printed by the studio for a special promotional advertisment for the original released 1963 film. Dec 01, 2015 steve mcqueen performed all of his own motorcycle stunts in the great escape with the exception of his characters final jump over a 6ft barbed wire fence. The tr6 trophy is a motorcycle that was made by triumph, in meriden, from 1956 to 1973. A stirring example of courage and the indomitable human spirit, for many john sturgess the great escape is both the definitive world war ii drama and the nonpareil prison escape movie.
Jan 02, 2016 the reallife escape preparations involved 600 men working for well over a year. Steve mcqueen famously jumped the fence on a motorcycle in his bid for freedom. The great escape 1963 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. With steve mcqueen, james garner, richard attenborough, charles bronson. The great escape 1963 movie mistakes, goofs and bloopers. Great escape legend steve mcqueens most iconic motorbike on. The great escapes most celebrated scene in which steve mcqueen, playing a wwii pow, eludes his german pursuers by jumping a section of barbedwire fence on a motorcycle was, of course, a.
The great escape 1011 movie clip motorcycle escape. The motorcycle jump is essential to the great escapes legacy, a historic moment in moviemaking. But even though the king of cool did much of his own stuntwork, it was bud ekins who actually made that spectacular jump. Taking the number three spot overall, and number one for men, was the 1963 world war ii epic the great escape. Feb 17, 2012 the great escapes most celebrated scene in which steve mcqueen, playing a wwii pow, eludes his german pursuers by jumping a section of barbedwire fence on a motorcycle was, of course, a hollywood contrivance, added to secure the participation of steve mcqueen, whom the producers knew was a speedjunkie and gear head. The great escape is how steve mcqueen outfoxed studio lawyers. For the filming of the climactic scene in the great escape in which steve as virgil hilts hijacks a german warbike and becomes the center of one of cinemas most famous chase scenes, a little bit of improvising was done, as explained by steve to writer william nolan. Mar 27, 2020 guy martins motorcycle jump was filmed on a grassy field near fussen, right on the germanyaustrian border. It became an image seared into our collective memory, emblematic of liberation and the brief exultation of those who made it out of the prison camp. Steve mcqueen on a motorcycle leaping 65 feet over a barbed wire fence while fleeing the nazis its one of the most memorable scenes in the great escape and it certainly looks like steve mcqueen on that bike.
With triumphs great escape program, that means no money down, no interest and no payments until spring, giving you plenty of time to prepare. Steve mcqueens dramatic fencejump in the the great escape. The great escape 1963 eric snider 12082011 in the annals of movie coolness, few things beat steve mcqueen jumping a motorcycle over a barbedwire fence to escape the nazis. The sequence helped make the great escape a cinema classic and turn steve mcqueen into an international star. The legendary scene from the 1963 film the great escape starring steve mcqueen. Bud ekins stuntman for great escape, bullitt sfgate. Word is that mcqueen wanted to do the fence jump himself, but the task instead fell to bud ekins, a stuntman on the film. Hilts steals a motorcycle at a checkpoint, jumping a series of barbedwire fences at the germanswiss border to escape from german soldiers. Jul 30, 20 an epic adventure film, the great escape runs nearly three hours, featuring a rousing elmer bernstein score and exciting action sequences including a notorious motorcycle chase between mcqueen. Bud ekins, a pioneering champion offroad motorcyclist and a veteran stuntman who doubled for steve mcqueen on the famous motorcycle jump. Mavericks bike scene in top gun, which sees hollywood. Meet the inspiration for steve mcqueens great escape. An epic adventure film, the great escape runs nearly three hours, featuring a rousing elmer bernstein score and exciting action sequences including a notorious motorcycle chase between mcqueen.
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