The Great Escaper
The Film
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 Bernard Jordan, who 'broke out' of his nursing home to attend the 70th anniversary D-Day commemorations in France in June 2014.
The film had its world premiere in London at BFI Southbank on 20 September 2023, and was released in the United Kingdom on 6 October 2023, by Warner Bros. Pictures.
The film marked the final screen performances for both lead actors: Jackson died in June 2023, nine months after filming finished; Caine announced his retirement from acting in October 2023. This is also the last film produced by Pathé UK, after the division announced in November 2023 that they would restructure to focus on premium television and only release films from their parent company.
Production
The film was announced in February 2021, and was scheduled to be shot in June of that year.
Principal photography commenced the following year, on 8 September 2022, and director Oliver Parker noted that Glenda Jackson "shot almost all her big scenes in the first twelve days". The French street scene was filmed in Church Street, Twickenham. In early October 2022 filming was taking place in East Sussex, at Camber Sands and Hastings.
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. 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)
Parker screened the finished film for Caine and Jackson a few weeks before the latter's death on 15 June 2023.
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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
Elliott Norman as Douglas Bennett
Donald Sage Mackay as Nathan
Carlyss Peer as Vicky
Isabella Domville as Susan Everard
Joe Bone as Tim
Victor Oshin as Scott