The Great Escaper

The Great Escaper is a 2023 biographical drama film directed by Oliver Parker, written by William Ivory, and starring Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson. It is based on the true story of 89-year-old British World War II Royal Navy veteran[3] Bernard Jordan who in June 2014 "broke out" of his nursing home to attend the 70th anniversary D-Day commemorations in France.[4]

Not to be confused with The Great Escape.
The Great Escaper
Film poster
Directed byOliver Parker
Written byWilliam Ivory
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyChristopher Ross
Edited byPaul Tothill
Music byCraig Armstrong
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release dates
  • 20 September 2023 (2023-09-20) (BFI Southbank)
  • 6 October 2023 (2023-10-06) (United Kingdom)
Running time
96 minutes[2]
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • France
LanguageEnglish

Another forthcoming film based on Jordan's story, The Last Rifleman starring Pierce Brosnan, is also expected to be released in 2023.[5]

The Great Escaper had its world premiere in London at BFI Southbank on 20 September 2023,[6] and was released in the United Kingdom on 6 October 2023, by Warner Bros. Pictures.[4] This was the final film for both lead actors: Jackson died in June 2023, nine months after she finished filming her part, and Caine retired from acting in October 2023.[7][8][9]

Cast
  • Michael Caine as Bernard (Bernie) Jordan
    • Will Fletcher as young Bernard Jordan
  • Glenda Jackson as Irene (Rene) Jordan, Bernard's wife
    • Laura Marcus as young Irene Jordan
  • John Standing as Arthur
  • Jackie Clune as Judith, manager of the care home
  • Danielle Vitalis as Adele, a care home worker
  • Brennan Reece as Martin, a care home worker
  • Wolf Kahler as Heinrich
  • Ian Conningham as LCT Commander Parker
  • Donald Sage Mackie as Nathan
  • Carlyss Peer as Vicky
  • Isabella Domville as Susan Everard
  • Joe Bone as Tim
  • Victor Oshin as Scott

Production

The film was announced in February 2021, and was scheduled to be shot in June of that year.[10] Principal photography commenced the following year, on 8 September 2022,[11] and director Oliver Parker noted that Glenda Jackson "shot almost all her big scenes in the first twelve days".[12][7] The French street scene was filmed in Church Street, Twickenham.[13] In early October 2022 filming was taking place in East Sussex, at Camber Sands[14] and Hastings.[15]

The film was shot entirely in the UK, to minimise the travelling involved and the COVID-19 risk to the older cast. John Standing, who appears in the film, claimed it was due to Brexit restrictions, a claim denied by Pathé, one of the film's main production companies.[16] At the time of filming, Caine was 89 and Jackson was 86. They had last made a film together 47 years earlier, The Romantic Englishwoman (1975).[4]

Parker screened the finished film for Caine and Jackson a few weeks before the latter's death on 15 June 2023.[12]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has a 79% "fresh" rating from the critics.[17]

Catherine Shoard of The Guardian called the film "brilliant" and "flintier than you might think, and very moving".[3] Peter Bradshaw, also in The Guardian, gave the film 4 stars out of 5, saying "Michael Caine and the late Glenda Jackson bring their A games to this true-life heartwarmer ... their ineffable class give this film some real grit: it’s a wonderful last hurrah for Jackson and there is something moving and even awe-inspiring in seeing these two British icons together".[18] Lou Thomas of Empire magazine gave the film 4 stars out of 5, stating "A moving and surprisingly nuanced drama offering far more than flag-waving nostalgia. Superb performances from Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson ensure the latter’s final screen role is fittingly dignified".[19] Kevin Maher of The Times also gave the film 4 stars out of 5, saying "Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson are remarkable as a D-Day veteran and his wife in a charming tale".[20]

Clarisse Loughrey of The Independent was less impressed by the film, giving it 2 stars out of 5, commenting on its "pat, patriotic sentimentalism" but that "... ultimately, the film finds a way to undercut all that sentimentality until what we’re left with is the memory of Caine and Jackson, misty-eyed and full of love."[21] Mark Kermode gave the film a very positive review on his Kermode and Mayo's Take podcast with Simon Mayo, saying "Michael Caine is always watchable Glenda Jackson has never been ... anything less than brilliant and it is one of the most lovely portrayals of a married couple who have been together forever and absolutely adore each other."[22] Tori Brazier of Metro gave the film 4 out of 5, calling it an "unexpectedly complex and unflinching film".[23]

Caine announced his retirement from acting in October 2023 in a BBC Today radio programme interview with Martha Kearney. Referring to The Great Escaper, he said "I keep saying I'm going to retire, yeah, er, well I, I, I am now, because I figured, I've had a picture which is, I played the lead and it's got incredible reviews. The only parts I'm liable to get now are old men, 90-year-old men, well, maybe 85, you know, er, and I thought well I might as well leave with all this. I've got wonderful reviews. What am I going to do to beat this?"[24] [8][note 1]

Notes
  1. Caine's words were mistranscribed in the BBC article by Steven McIntosh as "I keep saying I'm going to retire. Well I am now. ... I've figured, I've had a picture where I've played the lead and had incredible reviews... What am I going to do that will beat this?".

References
  1. "The Great Escaper". BBC Film. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  2. "The Great Escaper (12A)". BBFC. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  3. Shoard, Catherine (29 September 2023). "'I'm 90. I worry if I'm gonna make it to lunch': Michael Caine and John Standing on wives, war and feeling like the Queen". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  4. Gregory, Elizabeth (26 July 2023). "The Great Escaper: release date and plot for Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson's upcoming film". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  5. Tai, Anita (25 July 2022). "Pierce Brosnan Undergoes Amazing Transformation For 'The Last Rifleman'". Entertainment Tonight Canada. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  6. Silvia, Erin (20 September 2023). "Michael Caine, 90, Makes First Red Carpet Appearance in Years at 'The Great Escaper' London Premiere". Hollywood Life. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  7. Parker, Oliver (19 June 2023). "I directed Glenda Jackson's final film – it was an astonishing few weeks". iNews. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  8. McIntosh, Steven (14 October 2023). "Michael Caine confirms retirement from acting after The Great Escaper". BBC website. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  9. https://news.sky.com/story/sir-michael-caine-confirms-retirement-from-acting-saying-you-dont-have-leading-men-at-90-12984278?dcmp=snt-sf-twitter
  10. Ramachandran, Naman (19 February 2021). "Michael Caine, Glenda Jackson Set for 'The Great Escaper,' Pathe to Sell at Berlin EFM". Variety. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  11. "The Great Escaper". Pathe UK. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  12. "'The fists were up and ready': working with the returning Glenda Jackson". The Guardian. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  13. Poulter, Rory (26 September 2022). "Oscar great Sir Michael Caine on set in Twickenham". Teddington Nub News. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  14. Jefferies, Mark (4 October 2022). "Sir Michael Caine pictured playing war veteran as he films for new movie in Camber Sands". The Mirror. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  15. Gladstone, Richard (6 October 2022). "New film starring movie legend Michael Caine being filmed in East Sussex". Sussex World. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  16. Corless, Blathnaid (22 May 2023). "D-Day movie starring Michael Caine, 90, filmed entirely in England because of older cast". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  17. "The Great Escaper". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  18. Bradshaw, Peter (6 October 2023). "The Great Escaper review – Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson exude ineffable class". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  19. Thomas, Lou (5 October 2023). "The Great Escaper Review". Empire. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  20. Maher, Kevin (6 October 2023). "The Great Escaper review — this should be a runaway hit". The Times. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  21. Loughrey, Clarisse (5 October 2023). "The Great Escaper review: Mawkish patriotism lets down the wonderfully paired Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson". The Independent. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  22. Kermode, Mark (6 October 2023). "Mark Kermode reviews The Great Escaper - Kermode and Mayo's Take". Kermode and Mayo's Take. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  23. Brazier, Tori (6 October 2023). "Frail Sir Michael Caine, 90, will stun audiences with his most poignant role yet in The Great Escaper". Metro. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  24. "Best of Today. Michael Caine: I'm retiring from film". Today (BBC radio programme). 14 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
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