THE GREAT ESCAPERS

Wednesday, January 22, 2025
The Great Escaper:  UK 2023
Location: SilverCity
Showtimes: 6:30 & 8:30 pm


Director: Oliver Parker
Cast: Michael Caine, Glenda Jackson
Running Time: 96 minutes
Language: English


Barcelona Film Festival, Best Actor: Michael Caine


“The Great Escaper has all the hallmarks of a British stiff-upper-lip drama, but transcends the “cheeky chappie” stereotypes with the performances of the late, great Glenda Jackson and eternal favourite Michael Caine.”—Richard Crouse, CTV


Michael Caine and the late Glenda Jackson bring their A games to this true-life story about the 89-year-old WW II Royal Navy veteran Bernard Jordan who in 2014 jauntily sneaked out of his seaside care home (where he lived with his wife Irene) on a secret mission to get aboard a cross-channel ferry and attend the 70th anniversary celebrations of the D-day landings in Normandy — having failed to get included on an official group excursion. He was dubbed “the great escaper” in the press. 


Caine is Jordan, bringing plenty of droll and lugubrious spark to the role, shuffling up and down the seafront, grumpily denouncing the trendy cyclists almost running him over on the pavement as “tossers” and letting the air out of their tires. 


Caine is arguably upstaged by Jackson as Irene, or Rene, who is snarky and sardonic to everyone, including her care worker Adele (an excellent performance from Danielle Vitalis). Rene has to cover up for Bernard; she is, after all, in on his plan, and tells the nurses and managers that her absent husband is just out on a long early walk, giving Bernard enough time to get on the ferry before the alarm is raised.


There’s a huge amount to enjoy from these legendary performers: Caine and Jackson are a great double-act, despite being apart for much of the film, and the film imagines an interesting and poignant rapport between Bernard and an elderly ex-RAF officer on the ferry, sympathetically played by John Standing, who is heading for Normandy while crucified by a secret guilt. Caine has a bold flash of rage by the official graves at all the criminal waste of lives created by war.


Caine and Jackson and 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.


Whether his ‘retirement’ holds or not, this may be the last opportunity to the great Michael Caine on the big screen.