There’s an added poignancy to The Great Escaper trailer not just to do with its subject matter but also that it was Glenda Jackson’s last film and from what we can see on offer here this looks like a guaranteed tearjerker.
In the summer of 2014, Bernard Jordan (Michael Caine) made global headlines. He had staged a “great escape” from his care home to join fellow war veterans on a beach in Normandy, commemorating their fallen comrades at the D-Day Landings 70th anniversary. It was a story that captured the imagination of the world as Bernie embodied the defiant, “can-do” spirit of a generation that was fast disappearing. But of course, it wasn’t the whole story. It was an inspirational but sanitised retelling of one man’s need to come to terms with the lasting trauma of war. Bernie’s adventure, spanning a mere 48 hours, also marked the culmination of his 60-year marriage to Rene (Glenda Jackson) – THE GREAT ESCAPER celebrates their enduring love but always with an eye to the lessons we might learn from the Greatest Generation.
Inspired by a true story this does look extreme’y good with two of Britain’s greatest actors and co-starring are John Standing, Danielle Vitalis, Will Fletcher and Laura Marcus and is directed by Oliver Parker who has quite an eclectic back catalogue of films that started with Othello starring Laurence Fishburne to two modern day St Trinian’s films to a Dad’s Army remake film to Johnny English Reborn. He certainly knows how to direct mature actors and this looks like a two hander between two of the greats.
THE GREAT ESCAPER which is set to open in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from 6th October 2023
related feature: Glenda Jackson obituary
related feature; We chat to the legendary Ian Ogilvy about his new aging allstar film, ‘Renegades’
Here’s The Great Escaper trailer……
