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Downloaded from
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YTS.MX
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[narrator]
This is Bavaria, Germany today.
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The green meadows,
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the magnificent castles
and rolling planes
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of Germany's largest region
haven't changed much
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in the last 50 plus years.
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It was here
in the summer of 1962,
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that American film director,
John Sturges
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brought together a classic cast
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for one of the most
popular films of all time,
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The Great Escape.
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Based on Australian Author,
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Paul Brickhill's
1950 bestseller,
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about a mass Allied escape
from a POW camp in Germany.
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This mammoth
United Artists production
from the Mirisch brothers
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cast such actors
as Steve McQueen,
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James Garner,
Richard Attenborough,
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Charles Bronson, James Coburn,
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00:01:56,449 --> 00:01:58,685
Donald Pleasence,
David McCallum,
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and many other fine thespians,
British, American, and German.
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What they accomplished
in few months of filming time
that summer of 1962
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has become a benchmark
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against which all other
ensemble war action movies
are measured.
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If it's not the greatest
guy movie of all time,
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tell me what is?
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00:02:22,275 --> 00:02:24,377
I was there that summer.
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John Sturges cast yours truly,
Lawrence Montaigne,
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as comedian
flight officer Haynes
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who happened to be
a member in good standing
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of Roger Bartlett's
X Organization.
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With Nimmo,
I was in charge of Diversions.
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And the first time
you really see me,
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I get into a fight
with James Coburn.
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‐Yeah. Knuckles will be fine.
‐Give him the coat.
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What are you doing
with my coat, mate?
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What are you talking about?
It's mine!
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[narrator] Since this movie
has become such an icon,
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with memorable location
shot all over Bavaria,
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a group of film historians,
film makers,
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and pure unadulterated fans,
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decided to retrace
the filmmaking steps
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of John Sturges.
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And see those locations
and how they look
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50 years later.
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The Great Escape's
principle location
was the prison camp itself.
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Built on the backlot
of Geiselgasteig Studios
in Munich, Germany.
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Well, unfortunately,
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the location was bulldozed
almost immediately
after the film was finished.
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And the forest
that was ripped out
to accommodate the production
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has grown back considerably.
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[Payne] This is four and five.
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So, this is the sound studio
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where they filmed the interior
of The Great Escape.
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We think that the camp
is to the north
of this football pitch,
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which is now being dug up.
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And if we look at the map,
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we can see studio four
and five, six and seven,
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the football pitch,
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some buildings are here,
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but your marker is this mass.
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00:04:26,933 --> 00:04:29,903
And here you can see
a rectangular square,
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which apparently was
where the camp was based.
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[man speaking German]
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[Robert E. Relyea]
To build the prison camp
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the most logical thing would be
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build it right outside
the studio.
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Except, there's
a black forest there.
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So we brought
the minister
of the interior out.
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Very elderly gentleman.
We put him on the chapman crane
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we brought him up in the air,
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we let him look down, and said,
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you know, uh,
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"Mr. Minister,
what we'd like to do
is tear out 400 trees
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in order to make
the prison camp.
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The reason for it,
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besides the fact that we're
right next to the studio...
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The real reason for it is
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we want the prison camp
to look like
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it's enclosed
by another prison,
the trees.
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Now, explaining our reason
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we'll now tell you
what we would do in return.
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We'll plant two for one.
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Any place you tell us
to plant trees.
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I understand it's gonna take
a long time for us to get even,
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but then,
you'll be double ahead."
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And he sat on the chapman crane
and looked through the lens,
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and he said, "I understand."
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And we started
bulldozing trees.
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[Payne] We are North
of the Bavaria studios.
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And we're looking for the camp.
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There were many ideas
where this camp was.
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Some people say,
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the camp is to the west
of the Bavaria studios.
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Some say,
it's to the north‐east.
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But, we have evidence
to prove that
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it was north of the studios.
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In particular,
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sound studio four and five.
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At the moment,
we're searching for
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some sort of even landscape
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to surmise that is where
the camp actually was.
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But we feel
we are in the rough vicinity.
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And you can see
from the trees over...
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Over the 50 years,
the trees would be this height.
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[man 1] There we go.
You gotta see this.
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[man 2]
Is that a natural gap there?
Is that a gap there?
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[Payne] We know
we're close, uh,
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from what we've seen
of the aerial photograph.
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We know it is in this area.
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It's very quiet.
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Very spiritual.
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So, use your imagination
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and come
to the Bavaria studios.
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And search where the mast is,
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and you will then find roughly,
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where they filmed the camp
in The Great Escape.
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[narrator] While
the camp is gone
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most of the iconic locations
of this film are intact.
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Much of the picture was filmed
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inside and outside
the Bavarian town of Fussen,
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which is about one hour
south‐west of Munich.
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In The Great Escape,
actor James Coburn
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played Australian
Louis Sedgwick.
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His nick name
was "The Manufacturer."
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Because he builds things,
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including trap doors,
air pumps,
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trolley cars and tools.
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Unlike many of
the other prisoners,
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he had the perfect escape.
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His principle conveyance
was a stolen bicycle.
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[Payne] The first location
is Markt Schwaben,
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which is where
James Coburn steals a bike.
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[Coburn]
When designing the character,
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I mean, John was just saying,
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"Well, now you get
on the bicycle
and you ride down the thing."
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Well, rather than getting
on the bicycle and uh...
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I steal the bicycle
in the first place, right?
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So, instead of rushing,
everything was...
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I was very slow
and very deliberate
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and very cautious, you know,
like, and very cool about it.
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You know,
rather being in a hurry,
or playing the paranoia.
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I just wanted to be
the other way around,
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just like, going through it
like it was,
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you know, I've been doing this
all my life.
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So, that was a choice I made.
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[man] Now, this building
to my left has been dynamited.
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And this is a new building.
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[man 2]
So, what's this building
called now then?
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00:09:03,944 --> 00:09:05,245
That's the Oberoi.
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‐[man 2]
Is that still called that?
‐Yep.
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[man 2] And it's closed.
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[Payne] It was here,
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00:09:09,616 --> 00:09:12,118
where James Coburn
stole the bicycle,
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and cycled away
in that direction.
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00:09:15,188 --> 00:09:17,991
Why we know it's this location,
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00:09:18,024 --> 00:09:21,361
is because that Church
with the dome,
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the same restaurant is there
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as it was 50 years ago.
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[soft instrumental music
playing]
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But you can see
from this picture,
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if we super impose it,
on what we see today
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the Church is still here
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and this building
is still here.
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And it's still a restaurant.
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And Coburn is stealing
the bike to escape
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around about here.
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[soft instrumental music
continues]
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[narrator] Not everyone
was fortunate enough
to steal a bicycle.
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00:10:06,773 --> 00:10:09,309
In the movie,
trains were critical.
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00:10:09,342 --> 00:10:11,945
And many prisoners
crawled out of that tunnel,
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00:10:11,978 --> 00:10:15,248
and wound up
in the train station
near the camp.
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Instead of Zagan,
it was called
Neustadt in the film.
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00:10:21,154 --> 00:10:25,826
[Payne] We're going to where
James Garner,
and Donald Pleasence escaped.
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00:10:27,694 --> 00:10:30,363
And Richard Attenborough,
Gordon Jackson.
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00:10:32,032 --> 00:10:35,902
And it's supposed to be
the Neustadt station.
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00:10:35,936 --> 00:10:39,039
The Neustadt railway station,
Neustadt.
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00:10:46,913 --> 00:10:49,883
And we're going to see
a derelict part.
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00:10:49,916 --> 00:10:51,985
And we have to sort of
try and guess
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00:10:52,986 --> 00:10:55,121
where the platform was.
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00:10:55,155 --> 00:10:57,724
It's an interesting location.
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James Garner
and Donald Pleasence
came up from the side
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00:11:01,928 --> 00:11:04,197
and crossed over
the railway crossing
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in front of this
derelict building.
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00:11:08,201 --> 00:11:11,738
It was a very tensed part
of the movie
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because they had just escaped.
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00:11:13,940 --> 00:11:16,176
And, so you're wondering...
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00:11:16,209 --> 00:11:18,344
And they were late.
Everything was running late.
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00:11:19,179 --> 00:11:21,047
And so they get here,
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00:11:21,081 --> 00:11:23,416
and they're waiting
for the train,
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00:11:23,449 --> 00:11:25,451
and they've already
missed a bunch of trains.
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00:11:25,485 --> 00:11:28,154
So, Donald Pleasence, of course
says to James Garner,
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00:11:28,955 --> 00:11:30,356
"So, what d we do?"
194
00:11:30,390 --> 00:11:33,226
And James Garner says,
"We wait for the train."
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00:11:37,931 --> 00:11:40,967
And 50 years later
you look at the film,
it's not old looking.
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00:11:41,001 --> 00:11:45,906
It's true. It's all truly
very well crafted film.
197
00:11:45,939 --> 00:11:48,474
[narrator] Any forensic look
at The Great Escape
198
00:11:48,509 --> 00:11:50,210
would have to focus in
199
00:11:50,243 --> 00:11:53,146
on Steve McQueen
and his motorcycle.
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00:11:53,179 --> 00:11:55,315
Although it was invented
for the movie,
201
00:11:55,348 --> 00:12:00,821
the concept of taking out
a German dispatch rider
and stealing his motorcycle,
202
00:12:00,854 --> 00:12:02,455
has historical validity.
203
00:12:02,488 --> 00:12:04,758
And it was popular
with the French Resistance.
204
00:12:06,392 --> 00:12:07,894
In The Great Escape,
205
00:12:07,928 --> 00:12:10,964
Steve's character,
Captain Virgil Hilts
206
00:12:10,997 --> 00:12:13,433
is identified
early in the story
207
00:12:13,466 --> 00:12:16,102
as an experienced
motorcycle racer.
208
00:12:16,136 --> 00:12:18,972
And it seems simply natural
for him to steal a bike.
209
00:12:19,873 --> 00:12:21,207
That sequence,
210
00:12:21,241 --> 00:12:23,409
and the hair‐raising
stunt work that followed,
211
00:12:23,443 --> 00:12:26,146
much of which was done
by McQueen himself,
212
00:12:26,179 --> 00:12:29,315
has become one of the most
popular action sequences
213
00:12:29,349 --> 00:12:31,117
ever featured in a film.
214
00:12:31,151 --> 00:12:34,254
And one of the factors
that launched McQueen's career
215
00:12:34,287 --> 00:12:36,923
as an international superstar.
216
00:12:36,957 --> 00:12:38,859
[Payne] We are in Hopfensee,
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00:12:39,926 --> 00:12:41,227
looking for the tripwire.
218
00:12:44,531 --> 00:12:48,034
[Gay] Well, we're at the apex
of the curve
where Steve McQueen
219
00:12:49,335 --> 00:12:51,271
comes across the road,
220
00:12:51,304 --> 00:12:54,908
and ties a wire off
between the fence posts,
221
00:12:54,941 --> 00:12:56,042
uh, between the sign posts.
222
00:12:58,244 --> 00:13:00,113
You know, objective being
223
00:13:00,146 --> 00:13:03,316
to trip up the next
Wehrmacht soldier
that comes up the road.
224
00:13:05,418 --> 00:13:08,054
‐[Christian Hawkridge]
And the road itself was here?
‐[man] Yeah.
225
00:13:08,088 --> 00:13:10,557
‐So now it's, um‐‐
‐[man] It's not the‐‐
226
00:13:10,591 --> 00:13:12,192
[Hawkridge]
First of all the road is wider
227
00:13:12,225 --> 00:13:16,162
and then the bicycle track
as well.
228
00:13:16,196 --> 00:13:19,900
‐So, the whole thing is wider,
so it has to be steeper.
‐Yeah.
229
00:13:28,041 --> 00:13:31,011
They would set up the posts
where they have to be.
230
00:13:31,044 --> 00:13:33,079
‐So you can't really‐‐
‐[man 2] Yeah.
231
00:13:33,113 --> 00:13:34,515
[Hawkridge]
You can't really say
232
00:13:34,548 --> 00:13:36,082
‐where the post is exactly.
‐[man 2] That was the post.
233
00:13:38,384 --> 00:13:39,485
[tires screeching]
234
00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:41,588
And so Sturges
had this idea of,
235
00:13:41,622 --> 00:13:45,291
string the wire
at about forty‐five degree
across the road,
236
00:13:45,325 --> 00:13:47,227
you come along with the bike,
hit the wire,
237
00:13:47,260 --> 00:13:48,562
and it will put you off
into the ditch.
238
00:13:50,030 --> 00:13:51,297
And I said,
239
00:13:53,066 --> 00:13:55,035
"It's really
physically impossible to do,
240
00:13:55,068 --> 00:13:56,503
but let me fake it.
241
00:13:56,537 --> 00:13:58,238
See what I can do.
242
00:13:58,271 --> 00:14:00,874
So I'd come down
and make a real quick turn
and it read phony,
243
00:14:02,175 --> 00:14:03,276
you know, and...
244
00:14:05,245 --> 00:14:08,148
I just, "Well,
maybe Tim can do it."
245
00:14:08,181 --> 00:14:09,550
Let Tim try it.
246
00:14:09,583 --> 00:14:12,953
And so, Tim, he's gonna
really give it a good go.
247
00:14:12,986 --> 00:14:15,522
So, Tim comes down now,
really hard and fast,
248
00:14:15,556 --> 00:14:17,991
and gonna fake this
hitting the wire,
249
00:14:18,625 --> 00:14:20,527
and he fell off.
250
00:14:20,561 --> 00:14:23,029
He crashed,
right there in the street.
251
00:14:23,063 --> 00:14:24,531
And really,
though it was second unit.
252
00:14:24,565 --> 00:14:27,233
And really, he says,
"That's great! That's great."
253
00:14:28,702 --> 00:14:31,237
I think there's a good chance
254
00:14:33,339 --> 00:14:35,141
that this shot is...
255
00:14:39,079 --> 00:14:41,381
Those trees right there.
Those things are trees.
256
00:14:41,414 --> 00:14:42,983
So, if you mounted
a camera here,
257
00:14:44,250 --> 00:14:47,487
on a slightly longer lens,
lower down,
258
00:14:47,521 --> 00:14:51,057
you'd get the composition
with that marker post
which I think,
259
00:14:51,091 --> 00:14:53,927
‐that one, is that one,
I would say.
‐[man] Yeah.
260
00:14:55,228 --> 00:14:57,297
Camera was here I would say.
261
00:14:57,330 --> 00:14:59,332
[narrator]
When the cast wasn't
digging tunnels
262
00:14:59,365 --> 00:15:01,267
or running all over Germany,
263
00:15:01,301 --> 00:15:04,104
they were sequestered
in a beautiful local hotel
264
00:15:04,137 --> 00:15:05,238
not far from Munich.
265
00:15:06,439 --> 00:15:08,542
We're going now to the house
266
00:15:08,575 --> 00:15:12,145
where the whole crew,
or most of the crew lived.
267
00:15:13,580 --> 00:15:14,581
Attenborough,
268
00:15:16,583 --> 00:15:18,251
Steve McQueen,
269
00:15:18,284 --> 00:15:21,221
James Coburn, Charles Bronson,
270
00:15:22,523 --> 00:15:25,025
and on the one night,
James Garner.
271
00:15:26,660 --> 00:15:29,295
My parents made breakfast
for them.
272
00:15:29,329 --> 00:15:32,298
And also in the evening,
273
00:15:32,332 --> 00:15:36,570
special things, fish and so on.
274
00:15:36,603 --> 00:15:39,305
And they were all sitting
in our living room.
275
00:15:39,339 --> 00:15:43,343
They had
a very cozy atmosphere,
I would say.
276
00:15:44,310 --> 00:15:46,346
And they liked it.
277
00:15:46,379 --> 00:15:51,384
Down here, we have also
the hotel list
of Pergola Am Hopfensee.
278
00:15:51,417 --> 00:15:54,220
This was the place
where John Sturges,
279
00:15:54,254 --> 00:15:57,290
Steve McQueen,
Richard Attenborough,
James Coburn,
280
00:15:58,124 --> 00:15:59,693
or Gordon Jackson,
281
00:15:59,726 --> 00:16:01,227
were in their apartments.
282
00:16:01,261 --> 00:16:03,697
Charles Bronson was there,
John Leyton was there.
283
00:16:06,099 --> 00:16:09,636
‐Hello, follow me, please.
‐[Riml] Thank you.
284
00:16:16,510 --> 00:16:20,380
This here, is where
Steve McQueen lived.
285
00:16:25,418 --> 00:16:31,024
This is where
the director John Sturges,
with his wife lived,
286
00:16:32,492 --> 00:16:33,994
for almost six weeks.
287
00:16:35,061 --> 00:16:36,697
Here lived
Sir Richard Attenborough,
288
00:16:38,298 --> 00:16:42,636
On the right side,
I think, in this roof's suite
289
00:16:42,669 --> 00:16:44,137
was Charles Bronson.
290
00:16:45,706 --> 00:16:46,607
And here,
291
00:16:48,509 --> 00:16:49,475
James Coburn.
292
00:16:51,277 --> 00:16:54,414
There's a separate bathroom,
293
00:16:55,281 --> 00:16:56,349
separate toilet,
294
00:17:01,321 --> 00:17:04,090
and a big room
with a nice view also.
295
00:17:04,124 --> 00:17:07,060
To the cast,
it's of a Neuschwanstein.
296
00:17:08,361 --> 00:17:12,498
All the actors have been
here in this house.
297
00:17:13,567 --> 00:17:18,271
The company took
the whole house.
298
00:17:18,304 --> 00:17:21,642
They had been here
for almost six weeks,
299
00:17:22,709 --> 00:17:24,511
and making this movie.
300
00:17:25,646 --> 00:17:27,413
Everybody had his own room.
301
00:17:28,615 --> 00:17:31,852
And at that time
it was very modern
302
00:17:31,885 --> 00:17:35,288
because in each room
we had a toilet
303
00:17:35,321 --> 00:17:38,458
and a bathroom and a shower.
304
00:17:38,491 --> 00:17:41,662
And I think this was the reason
305
00:17:41,695 --> 00:17:45,431
that the film company took
the whole house.
306
00:17:46,567 --> 00:17:50,303
And my parents
took care of them.
307
00:17:50,336 --> 00:17:53,874
We had also two servants
in the house.
308
00:17:53,907 --> 00:17:57,177
They got breakfast
each morning.
309
00:17:57,210 --> 00:17:58,579
Sometimes in the evening,
310
00:18:00,380 --> 00:18:03,750
a special dinner,
which was cooked by my father.
311
00:18:05,652 --> 00:18:10,123
And, well, during the day time
they were outside
312
00:18:10,156 --> 00:18:11,725
on different spots.
313
00:18:12,826 --> 00:18:14,628
And they were very friendly.
314
00:18:15,896 --> 00:18:21,835
And it was a family atmosphere,
I would say.
315
00:18:21,868 --> 00:18:27,140
They met in the lounge,
discussed the script
for the next morning.
316
00:18:27,173 --> 00:18:29,510
I come to visit my parents
317
00:18:29,543 --> 00:18:33,146
and then I went back
for my studies in Munich.
318
00:18:33,179 --> 00:18:36,282
So, I was not always
around them,
319
00:18:36,316 --> 00:18:41,321
but, I saw the cars outside.
320
00:18:42,556 --> 00:18:45,391
James Coburn had a Porsche.
321
00:18:45,425 --> 00:18:49,362
And I think Steve McQueen had
a Jaguar.
322
00:18:49,395 --> 00:18:53,767
Yes, and for me, this was
also very interesting [laughs]
323
00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,503
to see these sports cars.
324
00:18:56,537 --> 00:19:01,575
Each evening or each afternoon,
there was a helicopter here
325
00:19:01,608 --> 00:19:04,845
who took the film material
to Munich,
326
00:19:04,878 --> 00:19:06,813
to the Bavaria Studios,
327
00:19:07,648 --> 00:19:09,616
to the copy company.
328
00:19:09,650 --> 00:19:11,618
[Payne] And what was
Steve McQueen like?
329
00:19:15,956 --> 00:19:18,525
Well, he was
what he'd always been.
330
00:19:18,559 --> 00:19:20,293
He was, uh...
331
00:19:20,326 --> 00:19:23,329
Well, he had
an atmosphere around him,
332
00:19:23,363 --> 00:19:29,770
and very strong
and a little macho, yes.
333
00:19:29,803 --> 00:19:34,474
And, uh, well, he was
very kind and nice
to everybody.
334
00:19:37,944 --> 00:19:44,585
He was not the type,
the husband
of Elizabeth Taylor.
335
00:19:44,618 --> 00:19:48,354
He was nearby here once,
in a hotel,
336
00:19:48,388 --> 00:19:51,424
and they had to fix up
the room again, huh.
337
00:19:51,457 --> 00:19:56,797
No, this was...
They were very good
educated people.
338
00:19:56,830 --> 00:20:01,401
[Payne] This is where
James Coburn leaves
339
00:20:01,434 --> 00:20:05,471
the town of Schleiden
to escape on a bicycle.
340
00:20:05,506 --> 00:20:09,275
And he cycles off
into the distance.
341
00:20:14,414 --> 00:20:18,484
[narrator]
Actor Nigel Stock who played
Cavendish "The Surveyor,"
342
00:20:18,519 --> 00:20:22,789
found that
his escape route included
a short‐lived truck ride.
343
00:20:22,823 --> 00:20:23,624
[Payne] We are going to see
344
00:20:23,657 --> 00:20:26,259
where Nigel Stock
gets captured.
345
00:20:27,460 --> 00:20:29,630
This scene starts,
346
00:20:29,663 --> 00:20:31,832
um, the fountain is there,
347
00:20:32,966 --> 00:20:35,936
the truck comes along here.
348
00:20:38,872 --> 00:20:42,643
And around the corner,
there's a group of soldiers.
349
00:20:44,811 --> 00:20:46,479
And Nigel Stock is captured.
350
00:20:53,654 --> 00:20:54,855
This is the right location.
351
00:20:56,456 --> 00:20:57,558
And you can see,
352
00:20:58,859 --> 00:21:01,695
he gets picked up in a truck,
353
00:21:03,029 --> 00:21:04,631
and he turns that corner.
354
00:21:06,767 --> 00:21:07,768
There's the fountain.
355
00:21:08,669 --> 00:21:11,037
And he turns the corner,
356
00:21:11,071 --> 00:21:13,674
and in front of them
there's a line of soldiers.
357
00:21:13,707 --> 00:21:15,709
[soft instrumental music
playing]
358
00:21:27,954 --> 00:21:31,692
‐Chris, you notice that
the building was yellow.
‐Yes.
359
00:21:31,725 --> 00:21:35,328
And the yellow paint
is underneath all this lot.
360
00:21:46,106 --> 00:21:47,407
[narrator] Seemingly cornered,
361
00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:50,911
Hilts takes up position
against the wall
of a German cabin
362
00:21:50,944 --> 00:21:52,713
that is still very much there.
363
00:21:55,015 --> 00:21:58,351
[Payne] Steve McQueen arrives
in this part of the movie.
364
00:21:58,384 --> 00:22:02,422
[Ekins] That was Steve, I mean,
he threw this off, didn't he?
365
00:22:02,455 --> 00:22:04,891
I mean, he was excited himself,
he loved it, you know,
366
00:22:04,925 --> 00:22:08,094
and he loved what he was doing
and he knew what he was doing.
367
00:22:08,128 --> 00:22:09,996
When he was son a motorcycle,
he was home.
368
00:22:10,030 --> 00:22:11,998
I remember there was one scene
369
00:22:12,032 --> 00:22:14,067
and he pulls up and he stops,
370
00:22:14,100 --> 00:22:16,703
he takes the gas cap off
and he looks down there
and shakes the tank.
371
00:22:18,972 --> 00:22:20,440
Because that's what
you would do, you know.
372
00:22:20,473 --> 00:22:22,108
He's worried.
373
00:22:22,142 --> 00:22:24,845
How much gas
has this thing got,
am I gonna make it.
374
00:22:24,878 --> 00:22:26,880
And, you know, to add to this,
375
00:22:26,913 --> 00:22:30,150
back on and vroom,
off he goes again.
376
00:22:30,183 --> 00:22:32,819
[Payne] And as you can see,
over to right,
377
00:22:34,020 --> 00:22:36,923
the mountains of the Alps.
378
00:22:36,957 --> 00:22:40,561
The road where
we are walking down
379
00:22:40,594 --> 00:22:42,929
is the road possibly used
in this film.
380
00:22:43,797 --> 00:22:45,666
And to the left,
381
00:22:45,699 --> 00:22:49,603
is the modern day
road that exists
382
00:22:49,636 --> 00:22:52,706
and moves into Hopfen am See.
383
00:22:52,739 --> 00:22:55,742
Great bunch of people,
all with same interests.
384
00:22:55,776 --> 00:22:57,678
Love the scenery.
385
00:22:57,711 --> 00:23:01,648
And walking in the footsteps
of Steve McQueen
is just a dream come true.
386
00:23:01,682 --> 00:23:05,819
[Payne] We are in Visbek,
which is a busy junction.
387
00:23:05,852 --> 00:23:09,523
But in the film, Steve McQueen
is asked for his papers.
388
00:23:09,556 --> 00:23:10,423
Come on here.
389
00:23:15,061 --> 00:23:17,731
[Payne]
Because he didn't have
any papers on him,
390
00:23:17,764 --> 00:23:19,465
he kicked the German
in the stomach.
391
00:23:20,934 --> 00:23:22,102
[soldier] Hey!
392
00:23:22,135 --> 00:23:23,604
Hey! Where are you going?
393
00:23:26,707 --> 00:23:30,210
And behind, you can see there,
this building,
394
00:23:30,243 --> 00:23:34,180
and he rides away
down the road and away.
395
00:23:34,214 --> 00:23:37,684
And just up the road
a hairdresser lived.
396
00:23:37,718 --> 00:23:45,592
The barber was 14 year‐old‐boy
called Jackie who saw the film.
397
00:23:45,626 --> 00:23:49,462
And remembered Steve McQueen
coming into the barber shop,
398
00:23:49,495 --> 00:23:50,564
to have a wet shave.
399
00:23:51,497 --> 00:23:52,966
And Charles Bronson,
400
00:23:52,999 --> 00:23:57,237
who was a very serious man,
and didn't say hello to Jackie.
401
00:23:57,270 --> 00:24:02,208
But Steve McQueen was
a very friendly man
and said hello to Jackie.
402
00:24:02,242 --> 00:24:03,810
Hello, Chris.
403
00:24:04,978 --> 00:24:07,548
[speaking German]
404
00:24:58,832 --> 00:25:03,670
[Payne] He turned here,
he crashed through, didn't he?
405
00:25:03,704 --> 00:25:09,275
They cut it here,
and then they filmed it
over there.
406
00:25:09,309 --> 00:25:11,812
They came back here again
and shot up there.
407
00:25:22,122 --> 00:25:23,657
[gunshots]
408
00:25:33,166 --> 00:25:35,035
So, we're coming up
to the gate.
409
00:25:35,068 --> 00:25:36,670
The gate was here.
410
00:25:36,703 --> 00:25:39,005
There's the bridge there.
411
00:25:39,039 --> 00:25:42,242
So, Steven McQueen kicks
the soldier in the stomach
412
00:25:44,645 --> 00:25:46,547
and drives off
into the distance.
413
00:25:47,113 --> 00:25:50,150
And he winds round
414
00:25:50,183 --> 00:25:52,986
and comes along
to the small bridge.
415
00:25:53,019 --> 00:25:54,621
And there's a single vehicle.
416
00:25:56,056 --> 00:25:57,624
He goes up and over the bridge,
417
00:25:58,925 --> 00:26:03,029
whilst the cycle
with the sidecar
418
00:26:04,097 --> 00:26:06,232
crashes into the gate.
419
00:26:06,266 --> 00:26:08,602
[Ekins] The one sidecar
that crashed, was me,
420
00:26:09,870 --> 00:26:11,738
with Chuck Hayward
in the sidecar,
421
00:26:11,772 --> 00:26:12,939
who went
to the hospital afterwards.
422
00:26:15,341 --> 00:26:19,145
And the other one was
a BMW with a sidecar
that a German was riding.
423
00:26:19,179 --> 00:26:22,115
And the solo bike
was Tim Gibbs, the Australian.
424
00:26:24,017 --> 00:26:27,988
And I believe
he was on a Triumph...
425
00:26:28,021 --> 00:26:30,023
He was on that Bonneville,
that we were discussing,
426
00:26:30,056 --> 00:26:30,991
the Bonneville Triumph.
427
00:26:33,193 --> 00:26:37,764
[soft instrumental music
playing]
428
00:26:37,798 --> 00:26:40,967
[Gay] McQueen is being chased
by the Wehrmacht, here.
429
00:26:41,001 --> 00:26:43,269
And, of course,
he's on his bike.
430
00:26:45,238 --> 00:26:47,307
He's coming up against...
He's gotta hide somewhere.
431
00:26:48,742 --> 00:26:51,011
[intense music playing]
432
00:27:01,054 --> 00:27:03,089
So, he's coming up
against this
and he's looking.
433
00:27:08,294 --> 00:27:09,930
You know,
and he's got his pistol.
434
00:27:10,864 --> 00:27:13,834
[motorcycle engine revving]
435
00:27:13,867 --> 00:27:16,770
And he's looking,
and he's looking this way
and everything like that.
436
00:27:16,803 --> 00:27:20,006
And of course,
he sees he's in big danger.
437
00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:21,207
This is the only thing he had.
438
00:27:21,241 --> 00:27:25,078
I mean, it's open field,
so he's got to find something
439
00:27:25,111 --> 00:27:28,749
to get behind
and to get some shelter
and get out of sight.
440
00:27:28,782 --> 00:27:31,952
And of course, we know
what happened after that.
441
00:27:31,985 --> 00:27:36,356
But, yeah,
this is the original place,
it's a big, big thing.
442
00:27:36,389 --> 00:27:39,025
[intense music playing]
443
00:27:41,995 --> 00:27:45,131
[Payne] If you look closely,
you can see the grain
in the wood.
444
00:27:46,166 --> 00:27:47,433
And if you match it to,
445
00:27:50,003 --> 00:27:52,739
this part of the hut,
you can see the grain.
446
00:27:54,775 --> 00:27:59,079
And the features
would be roughly there.
447
00:28:03,183 --> 00:28:04,851
[intense music continues]
448
00:28:07,788 --> 00:28:10,290
Well, it wasn't too funny
for the people
449
00:28:10,323 --> 00:28:11,892
‐who owned the barn.
‐[man] No, I bet not.
450
00:28:11,925 --> 00:28:16,229
Um, I hear rumor
that they even were sued
451
00:28:16,262 --> 00:28:18,098
‐all because of that.
‐[gasps] Oh, my god!
452
00:28:18,131 --> 00:28:20,266
And so
the whole barn down there,
453
00:28:20,300 --> 00:28:22,268
they tried to wash it off
three or four times
454
00:28:22,302 --> 00:28:23,937
‐and it wouldn't go away.
‐Oh, jeez. [laughing]
455
00:28:23,970 --> 00:28:24,838
It came back again.
456
00:28:26,406 --> 00:28:27,874
[Payne] This is the road,
457
00:28:27,908 --> 00:28:30,076
that Steve McQueen
is riding along,
458
00:28:30,110 --> 00:28:33,113
escaping from
the Germans behind.
459
00:28:33,146 --> 00:28:34,147
Closely behind.
460
00:28:34,915 --> 00:28:36,950
He's coming to...
461
00:28:36,983 --> 00:28:39,720
towards Pfronten‐Berg,
462
00:28:40,954 --> 00:28:42,155
which is in the distance.
463
00:28:43,156 --> 00:28:45,926
with St. Nikolaus church.
464
00:28:47,327 --> 00:28:50,731
And on the bend here,
465
00:28:52,032 --> 00:28:55,401
is where the,
the poster is situated.
466
00:28:56,970 --> 00:28:58,839
And over here,
467
00:28:58,872 --> 00:29:00,473
here's the cross
which was put up,
468
00:29:01,875 --> 00:29:04,077
in 1960.
469
00:29:05,812 --> 00:29:09,382
And, um, with the film
made in 1962,
470
00:29:11,151 --> 00:29:14,120
we know
that this is the location.
471
00:29:15,321 --> 00:29:19,125
So here, with Pfronten‐Berg
472
00:29:19,159 --> 00:29:22,896
St. Nikolaus Church
in the background,
473
00:29:22,929 --> 00:29:28,268
is the place
where one of the most iconic,
474
00:29:29,369 --> 00:29:31,471
uh, scenes was filmed.
475
00:29:31,505 --> 00:29:34,174
And then, he escapes up, uh,
476
00:29:35,308 --> 00:29:38,044
through the hills and beyond.
477
00:29:42,348 --> 00:29:44,317
This is the crossing
478
00:29:44,350 --> 00:29:47,821
and the Pfronten
railway station
is over there.
479
00:29:47,854 --> 00:29:50,557
This building proves,
480
00:29:50,591 --> 00:29:52,258
that this is the location
481
00:29:52,292 --> 00:29:55,829
where James Coburn
was on his bike.
482
00:29:57,998 --> 00:30:00,801
He looks around
and then cycles off.
483
00:30:02,268 --> 00:30:05,338
The frame there
goes in between,
484
00:30:05,371 --> 00:30:06,339
[door squeaking]
485
00:30:07,541 --> 00:30:10,143
and he gets on the train,
there.
486
00:30:11,177 --> 00:30:12,312
[soft instrumental music
playing]
487
00:30:24,958 --> 00:30:27,427
So, Steve McQueen is
escaping from the Germans,
488
00:30:27,460 --> 00:30:29,963
and he goes up over the hills,
489
00:30:29,996 --> 00:30:31,898
the brow of the hills,
490
00:30:31,932 --> 00:30:35,101
and past the hut
which is no longer here.
491
00:30:35,135 --> 00:30:39,105
But, we know it's
the right location,
492
00:30:39,139 --> 00:30:42,375
because
of the St. Nikolaus Church,
493
00:30:42,408 --> 00:30:46,479
which in the distance,
in Pfronten‐Berg.
494
00:30:46,513 --> 00:30:49,650
And then, they cut away,
495
00:30:49,683 --> 00:30:51,317
and finished with McQueen,
496
00:30:52,385 --> 00:30:53,353
in, uh...
497
00:30:54,354 --> 00:30:56,189
Riding of in this direction.
498
00:30:56,222 --> 00:30:57,257
[Payne] That direction.
499
00:30:58,525 --> 00:31:02,362
And then, they cut back again,
500
00:31:02,395 --> 00:31:04,264
and McQueen is in front
of the big mountain
501
00:31:05,365 --> 00:31:08,101
that we can see
in the distance.
502
00:31:08,134 --> 00:31:09,636
[motorcycle engine revving]
503
00:31:20,614 --> 00:31:22,482
[narrator] Of course,
your average movie goer
504
00:31:22,516 --> 00:31:24,685
didn't realize
that Steve McQueen
505
00:31:24,718 --> 00:31:27,988
actually put on
a German motorcyclist uniform
506
00:31:28,021 --> 00:31:29,122
at one point,
507
00:31:29,155 --> 00:31:31,057
and chased himself.
508
00:31:31,091 --> 00:31:33,159
This was necessitated
by the fact that
509
00:31:33,193 --> 00:31:36,362
the German stunt riders
were simply not fast enough.
510
00:31:36,396 --> 00:31:38,899
to keep up
with very fleet Steve McQueen.
511
00:31:41,668 --> 00:31:44,104
He was like a kid
who had all these toys,
512
00:31:44,137 --> 00:31:46,707
who liked to drive fast
in cars and motorcycles
513
00:31:46,740 --> 00:31:48,374
And, you know,
that was his trip.
514
00:31:48,408 --> 00:31:50,476
And he destroyed a car
when we were, uh, [laughs]
515
00:31:50,511 --> 00:31:53,013
when we were in Redding,
516
00:31:53,046 --> 00:31:54,548
shooting Hell is for Heroes.
517
00:31:54,581 --> 00:31:56,550
He crashed more than one car.
518
00:31:56,583 --> 00:31:58,351
Uh, he crashed a couple.
519
00:31:58,384 --> 00:32:00,286
He had a gull‐wing Mercedes,
520
00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:03,557
that he stuck out
into the woods somewhere.
521
00:32:03,590 --> 00:32:09,062
He had this, uh, desire to,
like man against machine.
522
00:32:09,095 --> 00:32:12,065
And if the machine
was strong enough
he had respect for it.
523
00:32:12,098 --> 00:32:13,700
If it wasn't, he didn't.
524
00:32:13,734 --> 00:32:16,369
Relyea, he started to say,
"Talk to him,"
525
00:32:16,402 --> 00:32:19,005
said, "He'll be good,
he'll be good," you know.
526
00:32:19,039 --> 00:32:20,674
Came to work one day,
started off.
527
00:32:22,108 --> 00:32:24,244
And he was living
just out of Geiselgasteig
528
00:32:24,277 --> 00:32:27,313
you know, a little town,
just uh, you know,
529
00:32:27,347 --> 00:32:30,584
I don't know,
I guess just north
of Geiselgasteig.
530
00:32:30,617 --> 00:32:33,253
And, there was
a farming community out there.
531
00:32:33,286 --> 00:32:34,721
And he comes over the ridge.
532
00:32:34,755 --> 00:32:36,590
He was going
about 90 miles an hour.
533
00:32:36,623 --> 00:32:38,091
You know, standing on it.
534
00:32:38,124 --> 00:32:40,126
He was always late, of course.
535
00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:43,096
And, here were
the two tractors,
536
00:32:43,129 --> 00:32:44,665
so off into the forest he went,
537
00:32:44,698 --> 00:32:47,601
boom, boom, boom,
boom, boom, bang, poof.
538
00:32:47,634 --> 00:32:52,739
And, [laughs] one of the trees
went crash right down,
and destroyed this...
539
00:32:52,773 --> 00:32:54,440
Man, it was, it was just, uh,
540
00:32:55,408 --> 00:32:57,210
it was just, [laughing]
541
00:32:57,243 --> 00:33:00,146
It was just mashed
by this tree.
542
00:33:00,180 --> 00:33:03,316
When he'd go to lunch
he'd drive a German motorcycle
543
00:33:03,349 --> 00:33:05,218
with the sidecar on it.
544
00:33:05,251 --> 00:33:07,721
And it's got, well, Swastikas
all over it
545
00:33:07,754 --> 00:33:09,389
and flags and everything else.
546
00:33:09,422 --> 00:33:11,391
And people are yelling at him
in the street,
547
00:33:11,424 --> 00:33:15,395
you know in German,
"Get that thing
off the street." [chuckles]
548
00:33:15,428 --> 00:33:18,665
He had no respect
for anyone, McQueen.
549
00:33:20,100 --> 00:33:22,068
Strange guy.
He was a strange guy.
550
00:33:22,102 --> 00:33:23,504
But I liked him a lot.
He was uh...
551
00:33:23,537 --> 00:33:25,105
We had
a lot of good times together.
552
00:33:25,138 --> 00:33:27,340
He and Jim Garner and myself.
553
00:33:27,373 --> 00:33:30,243
Steve's ability
on a motorcycle was enormous.
554
00:33:32,579 --> 00:33:34,047
You and I have talked
about the fact
555
00:33:34,080 --> 00:33:36,617
that we look real closely,
556
00:33:36,650 --> 00:33:39,786
a lot of the Germans
chasing Steve, are Steve.
557
00:33:39,820 --> 00:33:42,088
[Ekins] Frohlich,
who was production manager,
558
00:33:42,122 --> 00:33:43,356
German production manager, uh,
559
00:33:45,391 --> 00:33:49,129
was telling us
that he's got two greatest
560
00:33:50,697 --> 00:33:53,800
motorcycle riders in Bavaria,
561
00:33:53,834 --> 00:33:55,335
who are gonna come
and chase Steve.
562
00:33:56,670 --> 00:33:59,673
Steve heard this too,
and, "Hmm.
563
00:33:59,706 --> 00:34:01,808
Boy are we gonna have fun."
[laughing]
564
00:34:03,176 --> 00:34:05,078
We would just do
the old Western trick
565
00:34:05,111 --> 00:34:07,480
of having Steve
take over the hill,
566
00:34:07,514 --> 00:34:09,716
jump the hill,
run down the gully.
567
00:34:09,750 --> 00:34:11,652
And then he'd run
and change uniforms
568
00:34:11,685 --> 00:34:13,353
and put on goggles
and a helmet,
569
00:34:13,386 --> 00:34:15,488
and he would be the German
chasing him.
570
00:34:15,522 --> 00:34:17,791
So, Steve takes off
and zip, zip, zip,
571
00:34:17,824 --> 00:34:21,094
and it was kind of
"one, two, three,"
572
00:34:21,127 --> 00:34:23,163
with his German rider.
[laughing]
573
00:34:23,196 --> 00:34:25,131
Pretty soon, here they come,
574
00:34:25,165 --> 00:34:27,267
and, they couldn't use it,
you know.
575
00:34:27,300 --> 00:34:30,504
And, so, obviously,
what Sturges is gonna say,
576
00:34:30,537 --> 00:34:31,838
"Steve, slow down."
577
00:34:31,872 --> 00:34:34,708
I mean, it's gonna
ruin everything, isn't it?
578
00:34:34,741 --> 00:34:37,778
Sometimes he's two
of the Germans chasing him.
579
00:34:37,811 --> 00:34:41,782
Because he could handle
bikes that well.
580
00:34:41,815 --> 00:34:43,884
[Ekins] Then he puts
a German uniform on,
581
00:34:43,917 --> 00:34:46,286
then he chases himself
through the scene,
582
00:34:46,319 --> 00:34:49,322
and so then,
you had equal speeds,
didn't you?
583
00:34:49,355 --> 00:34:51,592
And in the same scene,
it was first Steve,
584
00:34:53,493 --> 00:34:56,196
uh, and then it was myself
and Chuck Hayward
585
00:34:56,229 --> 00:34:58,264
with a sidecar outfit
following him,
586
00:34:58,298 --> 00:34:59,766
through that same corner.
587
00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:01,602
[narrator] Here we see
the roundabout,
588
00:35:01,635 --> 00:35:03,670
where the German truck convoy
589
00:35:03,704 --> 00:35:08,308
turns during the final
tragic sequence
in The Great Escape.
590
00:35:08,341 --> 00:35:12,879
[Payne] The roundabout was used
in the scene right at the end,
591
00:35:12,913 --> 00:35:17,584
where the trucks
lead off different ways.
592
00:35:17,618 --> 00:35:20,587
And in the film
you could see a cross.
593
00:35:20,621 --> 00:35:23,356
So you know
that is the roundabout
which was used
594
00:35:23,389 --> 00:35:27,427
in the location
where the prisoners were taken.
595
00:35:27,460 --> 00:35:30,697
And sadly,
50 of them were shot.
596
00:35:32,766 --> 00:35:35,468
Just round the corner
from the roundabout.
597
00:35:36,469 --> 00:35:38,505
But we know,
598
00:35:38,539 --> 00:35:42,242
this is the right location,
because of the cross.
599
00:35:44,244 --> 00:35:46,680
[narrator]
Two of the audience's favorites
in The Great Escape,
600
00:35:46,713 --> 00:35:49,482
were Danny and Willie,
the "Tunnel Kings,"
601
00:35:49,516 --> 00:35:53,787
portrayed by Charles Bronson
and British actor, John Leyton.
602
00:35:53,820 --> 00:35:55,822
They're the ones
who find a row boat,
603
00:35:55,856 --> 00:35:58,525
and start paddling down
the river to Holland.
604
00:35:58,559 --> 00:36:01,862
That sequence was also filmed
right outside Fussen.
605
00:36:03,429 --> 00:36:06,900
[Payne] In the distance,
you can see old Fussen.
606
00:36:06,933 --> 00:36:11,337
And behind it,
you can see the bridge,
607
00:36:11,371 --> 00:36:14,808
which is where
they rowed towards.
608
00:36:14,841 --> 00:36:17,644
A very iconic picture.
609
00:36:17,678 --> 00:36:19,613
[Purdey]
And the large building there,
610
00:36:19,646 --> 00:36:24,618
that one with the little
triangulated bit
611
00:36:24,651 --> 00:36:25,786
on top of the roof,
612
00:36:26,853 --> 00:36:29,956
that is, that there,
613
00:36:29,990 --> 00:36:31,424
which we can see just out there
614
00:36:31,457 --> 00:36:33,660
with that tower
just at the left of it.
615
00:36:35,529 --> 00:36:37,230
[narrator]
Actor David McCallum,
616
00:36:37,263 --> 00:36:39,833
portrayed Eric Ashley‐Pitt
in the movie,
617
00:36:39,866 --> 00:36:42,936
the officer
in charge of dirt disposal.
618
00:36:42,969 --> 00:36:46,272
His moment of truth occurs
in the train station,
619
00:36:46,306 --> 00:36:49,375
when he confronts
a deadly Gestapo agent.
620
00:36:49,409 --> 00:36:51,311
That was also shot in Fussen.
621
00:36:54,014 --> 00:36:56,449
[Payne] David McCallum
was running away
from the Germans,
622
00:36:57,651 --> 00:36:59,886
having just killed
a Gestapo officer.
623
00:37:01,354 --> 00:37:03,356
And he arrives round about,
624
00:37:05,526 --> 00:37:06,392
here.
625
00:37:08,529 --> 00:37:09,596
[gun fires]
626
00:37:11,665 --> 00:37:12,866
And he gets shot in the back.
627
00:37:14,367 --> 00:37:17,337
He stumbles over to the tracks,
628
00:37:17,370 --> 00:37:20,240
and in between the two tracks
629
00:37:21,374 --> 00:37:22,976
he collapses and dies.
630
00:37:24,477 --> 00:37:26,346
[narrator] The Great Escape
was orchestrated
631
00:37:26,379 --> 00:37:28,682
by squadron leader
Roger Bushell,
632
00:37:28,715 --> 00:37:31,484
whose name was changed
to Bartlett in the movie,
633
00:37:31,518 --> 00:37:33,019
and played
by Richard Attenborough.
634
00:37:34,988 --> 00:37:37,624
After a nail‐biting sequence
on the train,
635
00:37:37,658 --> 00:37:41,628
it looks like Bartlett
and his closest friend
Sandy McDonald,
636
00:37:41,662 --> 00:37:43,830
played by Scotsman,
Gordon Jackson,
637
00:37:43,864 --> 00:37:45,632
are close to escaping.
638
00:37:45,666 --> 00:37:47,400
But something goes wrong.
639
00:37:47,433 --> 00:37:49,836
And suddenly, they're running
all over Fussen,
640
00:37:49,870 --> 00:37:51,638
trying to find a hiding place.
641
00:37:52,706 --> 00:37:54,941
The door is about here.
642
00:37:54,975 --> 00:37:57,277
[Payne] Roger Bartlett
runs away with McDonald,
643
00:37:58,111 --> 00:37:59,546
up this road.
644
00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:02,048
We now have three windows.
645
00:38:02,949 --> 00:38:03,950
But in the film,
646
00:38:05,051 --> 00:38:07,420
there's three brown doors.
647
00:38:07,453 --> 00:38:09,055
He turns the corner,
648
00:38:09,089 --> 00:38:12,626
and you could see
that the big building
in the distance...
649
00:38:12,659 --> 00:38:16,296
So, you know this is the part
of the location.
650
00:38:17,864 --> 00:38:19,499
This is in old Fussen,
651
00:38:20,767 --> 00:38:22,703
and Richard Attenborough
652
00:38:22,736 --> 00:38:25,405
is escaping from the Germans.
653
00:38:25,438 --> 00:38:27,941
And he's coming across
the rooftops.
654
00:38:27,974 --> 00:38:29,910
We know this is the location,
655
00:38:29,943 --> 00:38:32,846
because of the shapes
of the mountains,
656
00:38:32,879 --> 00:38:34,515
in the background.
657
00:38:34,548 --> 00:38:35,616
[narrator] At one point,
658
00:38:35,649 --> 00:38:38,418
McDonald slams into
a bicyclist,
659
00:38:38,451 --> 00:38:40,587
who turns out to be
of all things
660
00:38:40,621 --> 00:38:42,756
the father of one
of the German guys
661
00:38:42,789 --> 00:38:44,891
leading our forensic team
around Fussen.
662
00:38:45,959 --> 00:38:47,961
That could be the cyclist.
663
00:38:47,994 --> 00:38:50,664
Here was a big tower,
uh, for the camera.
664
00:38:51,998 --> 00:38:53,066
[Payne] The bike comes out,
665
00:38:54,668 --> 00:38:56,803
but the bike could,
would be there.
666
00:39:02,108 --> 00:39:03,409
Hey, it's my father.
667
00:39:24,565 --> 00:39:25,532
[tires screeching]
668
00:39:27,568 --> 00:39:27,701
[Payne] Green garage!
669
00:39:33,774 --> 00:39:37,844
[Payne] Richard Attenborough's
running away from the Germans,
670
00:39:37,878 --> 00:39:40,881
and he grabs a newspaper
over there,
671
00:39:40,914 --> 00:39:42,916
and he thinks he's safe.
672
00:39:42,949 --> 00:39:45,686
He makes his way
around the corner,
673
00:39:45,719 --> 00:39:48,655
and he goes
and leans against this corner,
674
00:39:48,689 --> 00:39:51,625
which is now Mary's Boutique
675
00:39:51,658 --> 00:39:54,394
and says, "I've escaped."
676
00:39:57,931 --> 00:40:00,033
But all of a sudden,
a German comes up to him,
677
00:40:00,901 --> 00:40:02,135
and asked him his name.
678
00:40:02,168 --> 00:40:04,104
"Herr Bartlett."
679
00:40:04,137 --> 00:40:06,840
[German officer] Herr Bartlett,
you're German is good.
680
00:40:08,642 --> 00:40:10,110
And I here also your French.
681
00:40:12,679 --> 00:40:13,614
Your arms.
682
00:40:14,480 --> 00:40:15,148
Up!
683
00:40:20,954 --> 00:40:24,558
[narrator] Louis Sedgwick
rode his bicycle
all the way to France,
684
00:40:24,591 --> 00:40:26,860
where he ends up
in a curbside cafe,
685
00:40:26,893 --> 00:40:29,095
run by the French Resistance.
686
00:40:29,129 --> 00:40:32,733
In reality, that cafe
is nowhere near France.
687
00:40:32,766 --> 00:40:36,102
It's right next to the river
in Fussen.
688
00:40:36,136 --> 00:40:38,204
[Payne] James Coburn
is having coffee
689
00:40:39,272 --> 00:40:41,107
at this location.
690
00:40:41,141 --> 00:40:44,511
And there are two waiters.
691
00:40:46,012 --> 00:40:47,447
He's reading a newspaper.
692
00:40:51,284 --> 00:40:53,687
Over the bridge,
comes the Resistance.
693
00:40:54,254 --> 00:40:55,989
[gun firing]
694
00:40:57,758 --> 00:40:58,859
[car revving]
695
00:41:01,595 --> 00:41:04,097
[narrator] It is James Garner
and Donald Pleasence
696
00:41:04,130 --> 00:41:06,600
portraying Hendley and Blythe,
697
00:41:06,633 --> 00:41:08,735
who steal a German
training plane
698
00:41:08,769 --> 00:41:11,071
to make they're escape
to Switzerland.
699
00:41:11,104 --> 00:41:12,806
What happens
if the thing starts?
700
00:41:12,839 --> 00:41:14,608
They said, "It hasn't started,
701
00:41:14,641 --> 00:41:16,810
and, you know,
we can't get it started."
702
00:41:16,843 --> 00:41:18,512
I said, "Well, what happens
if it does?"
703
00:41:18,545 --> 00:41:21,014
So, the guy told me,
"Because I'm not a pilot."
704
00:41:21,047 --> 00:41:22,883
Told me about the brakes
and the throttle
705
00:41:22,916 --> 00:41:24,918
and this, that and the other.
706
00:41:24,951 --> 00:41:28,655
And so we got Donald out there,
and I told him to crank it.
707
00:41:28,689 --> 00:41:31,758
And when I, you know,
once he got it cranked,
708
00:41:31,792 --> 00:41:33,727
you know, I had to get out
and help him,
709
00:41:33,760 --> 00:41:35,996
and get him in
because he couldn't see.
710
00:41:36,029 --> 00:41:37,564
And then I got into it.
711
00:41:37,598 --> 00:41:38,565
And, uh,
712
00:41:39,833 --> 00:41:42,936
darn, if he didn't crank it
and it started,
713
00:41:42,969 --> 00:41:45,171
'cause we're never
gonna do all that in cuts.
714
00:41:45,205 --> 00:41:48,041
We got a camera crew out there,
not too far away,
715
00:41:48,074 --> 00:41:49,610
not too much further
than you are.
716
00:41:51,044 --> 00:41:52,913
And, uh, it started.
717
00:41:54,180 --> 00:41:56,717
So, I got throttled back,
718
00:41:56,750 --> 00:41:58,652
and set the brake a little bit,
719
00:41:58,685 --> 00:42:01,688
and eased off on the brake,
I saw it wasn't going anywhere.
720
00:42:01,722 --> 00:42:04,891
I got out and got him up there,
got him in the seat,
721
00:42:04,925 --> 00:42:06,226
and then I sat down
722
00:42:06,259 --> 00:42:08,995
and I revved up
the throttle a little bit
723
00:42:09,029 --> 00:42:11,798
and eased off the brake,
and it started moving forward.
724
00:42:11,832 --> 00:42:15,602
You never saw a crew move
so fast in all your life.
725
00:42:15,636 --> 00:42:17,070
They were safe enough,
726
00:42:17,103 --> 00:42:19,940
because I do know
a little about mechanics
and whatever, so.
727
00:42:20,674 --> 00:42:22,275
But it did, uh...
728
00:42:22,308 --> 00:42:24,645
I almost started
taxing that thing off.
729
00:42:25,712 --> 00:42:27,080
[narrator]
They run out of fuel.
730
00:42:27,113 --> 00:42:29,249
and crash‐land in the forest.
731
00:42:29,282 --> 00:42:32,819
A sequence that was
amazingly shot for real.
732
00:42:32,853 --> 00:42:36,056
With John Sturges' assistant,
Robert Relyea
733
00:42:36,089 --> 00:42:38,291
piloting the doomed plane.
734
00:42:38,324 --> 00:42:41,862
What I will always
fondly remember
about that aircraft was
735
00:42:41,895 --> 00:42:43,063
we were shooting this scene
736
00:42:43,096 --> 00:42:47,067
where you see the plane
head towards that lovely tower,
737
00:42:47,100 --> 00:42:49,603
that castle near Fussen.
738
00:42:49,636 --> 00:42:52,773
And as I made
a very majestic turn up there,
739
00:42:53,707 --> 00:42:55,341
the engine died.
740
00:42:55,375 --> 00:42:58,979
And I thought,
"Oh, I'm gonna go
right into this castle."
741
00:42:59,012 --> 00:43:02,182
We actually circled
the castle with no power.
742
00:43:02,215 --> 00:43:04,350
And then we came back,
743
00:43:04,384 --> 00:43:07,020
another gentleman
in the co‐pilot seat,
744
00:43:07,053 --> 00:43:10,090
and we were looking for
any place to get into
745
00:43:10,123 --> 00:43:14,260
and I couldn't find anything
except a farmer's field.
746
00:43:14,294 --> 00:43:17,097
And we rolled up
in this farmer's field,
747
00:43:17,130 --> 00:43:20,066
and here came
this little house,
748
00:43:20,100 --> 00:43:21,768
And I was trying
to brake the plane
749
00:43:21,802 --> 00:43:23,136
but I couldn't get it
to slow down.
750
00:43:23,169 --> 00:43:24,905
We rolled right up to his porch
751
00:43:24,938 --> 00:43:26,807
and he was sitting there
with his feet up.
752
00:43:27,908 --> 00:43:29,175
No shoes, no nothing.
753
00:43:29,209 --> 00:43:30,744
And he was dumbstruck,
of course.
754
00:43:31,712 --> 00:43:34,214
I don't have a German license,
755
00:43:34,247 --> 00:43:35,816
I have an American license.
756
00:43:37,383 --> 00:43:42,088
The plane is illegally painted
with Swastikas.
757
00:43:43,189 --> 00:43:45,391
Um, he was having a fit.
758
00:43:45,425 --> 00:43:47,761
Unfortunately,
he was the equivalent
759
00:43:47,794 --> 00:43:49,630
of our FAA commissioner,
760
00:43:50,230 --> 00:43:51,331
at his summer home.
761
00:43:52,332 --> 00:43:53,934
So, he was having a conniption.
762
00:43:53,967 --> 00:43:56,770
The gentleman who was with me
spoke German,
763
00:43:56,803 --> 00:43:59,973
and when I was trying to lay
on the grass and relax
764
00:44:00,006 --> 00:44:01,708
from not going to his house,
765
00:44:02,342 --> 00:44:03,777
he kept yelling at me.
766
00:44:03,810 --> 00:44:06,346
He's telling us
that we're under arrest,
767
00:44:06,379 --> 00:44:09,049
don't move
until he gets into town
768
00:44:09,082 --> 00:44:11,084
and he can get a policeman.
769
00:44:11,117 --> 00:44:14,387
But, John Sturges, came
and bailed me out.
770
00:44:14,420 --> 00:44:18,124
[Payne] We're in the nice
Miesbach area.
771
00:44:18,158 --> 00:44:22,095
Frauenried,
the Hamlet of Frauenried.
772
00:44:22,128 --> 00:44:25,331
And we have found
the St. Mary's Church,
773
00:44:25,365 --> 00:44:28,334
which is the still the same
as it was, 50 years ago.
774
00:44:29,770 --> 00:44:31,437
It's now painted yellow.
775
00:44:31,471 --> 00:44:35,141
But in the film it was white.
776
00:44:35,175 --> 00:44:40,246
And you can see that
they now have grown some trees
777
00:44:40,280 --> 00:44:42,949
to obscure the church.
778
00:44:42,983 --> 00:44:45,351
We know this is the area,
779
00:44:45,385 --> 00:44:50,023
because if we look at the trees
behind us,
780
00:44:51,257 --> 00:44:52,358
there's a bow.
781
00:44:54,360 --> 00:44:58,231
It's a funny shaped tree
that matches up with the film.
782
00:45:00,133 --> 00:45:04,004
Somewhere on that line
would be the camera position
783
00:45:04,037 --> 00:45:07,107
depending on the lens
they were using,
784
00:45:08,174 --> 00:45:09,910
and how much space they needed.
785
00:45:09,943 --> 00:45:13,780
I think the camera
would be set quite far back,
786
00:45:13,814 --> 00:45:16,349
on a longer lens for safety.
787
00:45:16,382 --> 00:45:18,384
And that's how I think
would explain this location
788
00:45:18,418 --> 00:45:21,154
because it would be difficult,
789
00:45:21,187 --> 00:45:22,488
I would have thought
to get permission
790
00:45:22,523 --> 00:45:26,159
to film this sort
of stunt sequence, anywhere,
791
00:45:26,192 --> 00:45:28,161
because they genuinely
flew the plane in,
792
00:45:28,194 --> 00:45:29,229
towards those trees.
793
00:45:29,262 --> 00:45:30,897
It was pulled on a cable
or whatever
794
00:45:30,931 --> 00:45:32,966
from what we saw there.
795
00:45:32,999 --> 00:45:35,969
So they'd have to fly in low
over these trees,
796
00:45:36,002 --> 00:45:38,038
and have a stunt pilot,
797
00:45:38,071 --> 00:45:41,274
touch the wheels down
just on this ridge.
798
00:45:41,307 --> 00:45:43,043
And then the plane
would travel through,
799
00:45:44,845 --> 00:45:46,046
through there.
800
00:45:46,079 --> 00:45:47,881
We are sure that the camera
was up there.
801
00:45:47,914 --> 00:45:50,050
We are sure that this is where
the plane crashed.
802
00:45:50,083 --> 00:45:52,118
And we're sure
from what we've seen
803
00:45:52,152 --> 00:45:55,889
that the port wing struck
this tree with a kink in it,
804
00:45:55,922 --> 00:45:59,826
and the starboard wing
struck that tree there.
805
00:45:59,860 --> 00:46:01,895
And who knows
if their intention
806
00:46:01,928 --> 00:46:03,897
was actually
to go through this gap
807
00:46:03,930 --> 00:46:05,065
between these trees.
808
00:46:05,098 --> 00:46:08,001
But, what happened is that,
809
00:46:08,034 --> 00:46:11,371
the port wing
definitely struck this tree.
810
00:46:11,404 --> 00:46:14,941
[Payne] And you can see
the kink in this tree,
811
00:46:14,975 --> 00:46:17,944
is the same as the kink
in the tree in front of us.
812
00:46:19,980 --> 00:46:22,448
The Germans, uh...
813
00:46:22,482 --> 00:46:24,551
Several cars drove up
this pathway,
814
00:46:25,586 --> 00:46:27,954
came out of their vehicles,
815
00:46:27,988 --> 00:46:32,025
as Donald Pleasence
goes toward the church.
816
00:46:38,231 --> 00:46:42,569
And so the German,
who will be standing
in the film,
817
00:46:42,603 --> 00:46:44,437
to the left of the church
818
00:46:44,470 --> 00:46:47,941
takes aim
and shoots Donald dead.
819
00:46:47,974 --> 00:46:51,077
And he falls to the ground
where I'm standing.
820
00:46:53,479 --> 00:46:56,282
[narrator] One of the most
memorable moments
in The Great Escape,
821
00:46:56,316 --> 00:46:59,152
is when Steve McQueen
rides up to the fence
822
00:46:59,185 --> 00:47:02,623
that separates him
from Switzerland and freedom.
823
00:47:02,656 --> 00:47:04,424
The resulting motorcycle jump
824
00:47:04,457 --> 00:47:07,460
then became
one of the most iconic moments
825
00:47:07,493 --> 00:47:09,630
in action film history.
826
00:47:09,663 --> 00:47:14,500
[Payne] This is the area
of Rossmoos, Benken,
827
00:47:14,535 --> 00:47:17,337
which is where they filmed
"the fence scene,"
828
00:47:17,370 --> 00:47:20,874
which Steve McQueen
is jumping over.
829
00:47:21,474 --> 00:47:23,143
And apparently,
830
00:47:23,176 --> 00:47:24,978
the stool that we see
in front of us,
831
00:47:26,179 --> 00:47:28,314
is where McQueen sat
832
00:47:28,348 --> 00:47:30,984
while they were waiting
to set up the film.
833
00:47:32,352 --> 00:47:37,423
And, the farmer
showed Steve McQueen,
834
00:47:37,457 --> 00:47:39,025
how to roll a German cigarette.
835
00:47:40,293 --> 00:47:41,962
And he smokes
a German cigarette
836
00:47:42,929 --> 00:47:44,898
while the scene was being set.
837
00:47:44,931 --> 00:47:47,968
And there were hundreds
of people involved.
838
00:47:48,001 --> 00:47:49,302
[engine revving]
839
00:48:04,951 --> 00:48:06,953
[reporter speaking German]
840
00:48:06,987 --> 00:48:09,055
[speaking English]
Those wonderful stunts
you were just doing,
841
00:48:09,089 --> 00:48:11,558
do they have any part
in the film
you're just shooting?
842
00:48:11,592 --> 00:48:13,359
‐Yes, they do.
‐Uh‐huh.
843
00:48:13,393 --> 00:48:15,929
Yes, we've worked it
into the escape,
844
00:48:15,962 --> 00:48:17,263
that's probably
the end of the movie.
845
00:48:17,297 --> 00:48:20,400
John Sturges and myself
and my stuntman Bud Ekins.
846
00:48:20,433 --> 00:48:22,402
Come time to do it,
847
00:48:22,435 --> 00:48:24,638
and my adrenaline
started going,
848
00:48:24,671 --> 00:48:26,507
and I'd hit it about
849
00:48:28,742 --> 00:48:31,578
50 miles an hour
the day before.
850
00:48:31,612 --> 00:48:33,514
And the adrenaline got going
and I hit about
851
00:48:33,547 --> 00:48:36,216
60 miles an hour.
852
00:48:36,249 --> 00:48:38,184
And it really went up
in the air.
853
00:48:38,218 --> 00:48:39,586
And I could remember
being in the air,
854
00:48:40,754 --> 00:48:42,422
and there was dead silence.
855
00:48:42,455 --> 00:48:44,525
I mean, there were
a few hundred people there,
856
00:48:44,558 --> 00:48:46,359
and all the extras
and everything.
857
00:48:46,392 --> 00:48:48,494
And when I was in the air,
it seemed like
I was up there forever,
858
00:48:48,529 --> 00:48:50,496
and there was dead silence.
859
00:48:51,532 --> 00:48:53,099
Nothing.
860
00:48:53,133 --> 00:48:54,535
Just going through the wind.
861
00:48:54,568 --> 00:48:57,037
And boom it hit the ground
and it shook,
862
00:48:57,070 --> 00:48:59,172
and almost fell off
and come back.
863
00:48:59,205 --> 00:49:03,610
And, boy, I got a big applause
and everybody was...
864
00:49:03,644 --> 00:49:06,580
Actually, with the dead silence
865
00:49:06,613 --> 00:49:08,615
just towards the last,
you heard, "Huh!"
866
00:49:09,783 --> 00:49:11,251
Like that. [laughing]
867
00:49:11,284 --> 00:49:13,153
Maybe it was me, I don't know.
868
00:49:15,789 --> 00:49:17,323
But, anyway, I was the hero
for the day.
869
00:49:18,024 --> 00:49:19,626
[speaking German]
870
00:49:24,665 --> 00:49:26,032
‐[Purdey] Those trees there?
‐[man] Yeah.
871
00:49:34,174 --> 00:49:35,475
[continues speaking German]
872
00:50:09,342 --> 00:50:11,612
[Riml] Here is
where the jump is?
873
00:50:13,313 --> 00:50:17,784
And the ditch used to be
all around here.
874
00:50:17,818 --> 00:50:21,755
So he jumped here
and landed in the fence
just over there.
875
00:50:21,788 --> 00:50:25,425
John shot the jump
over the barbwire,
876
00:50:27,193 --> 00:50:29,162
which was shot three times.
877
00:50:29,195 --> 00:50:33,066
Once with Bud Ekins,
once with Steve
878
00:50:33,099 --> 00:50:35,669
and once with a New Zealander,
Tim Gibbs.
879
00:50:36,803 --> 00:50:40,140
So, it was done once
by Steve McQueen,
880
00:50:40,173 --> 00:50:43,844
once by Bud Ekins,
and once by Tim Gibbs,
881
00:50:43,877 --> 00:50:47,413
a New Zealander
who used to do
European Motocross
882
00:50:47,447 --> 00:50:50,316
with Bud Ekins and Steve.
883
00:50:50,350 --> 00:50:53,687
The one in the picture
is Bud Ekins.
884
00:50:53,720 --> 00:50:55,556
But all three of them
jumped it.
885
00:50:56,456 --> 00:50:57,591
[speaking German]
886
00:51:52,513 --> 00:51:53,580
[speaking German]
887
00:51:53,614 --> 00:51:57,250
The most happening,
I just remember,
888
00:51:57,283 --> 00:52:02,322
was when we went in uniform
through the downtown.
889
00:52:02,355 --> 00:52:05,225
And I just remember going to
the main street in Fussen.
890
00:52:06,392 --> 00:52:08,895
I just, I mention it before.
891
00:52:08,929 --> 00:52:15,936
And, um, I just see
the two elder women
just like yesterday,
892
00:52:15,969 --> 00:52:20,541
say, "Oh, my goodness,
Mr. Hitler's here again,
893
00:52:20,574 --> 00:52:22,576
Hitler's here again."
[chuckles]
894
00:52:22,609 --> 00:52:26,580
Because it was not allowed
to go in his uniform.
895
00:52:26,613 --> 00:52:28,515
‐You understand my English?
‐[man] Yeah, sure.
896
00:52:28,549 --> 00:52:31,918
So, we said, "No, no.
We're just students."
897
00:52:31,952 --> 00:52:34,187
[laughing] "Oh, Hitler again."
898
00:52:34,220 --> 00:52:36,623
I never get to see, you know.
899
00:52:36,657 --> 00:52:40,393
And it was a good,
a nice, nice time.
900
00:52:40,426 --> 00:52:42,262
'Cause it is so impressive,
901
00:52:42,929 --> 00:52:44,665
the story itself
902
00:52:44,698 --> 00:52:47,233
that people want to survive,
903
00:52:47,267 --> 00:52:49,369
that people want to go
back home.
904
00:52:49,402 --> 00:52:50,671
Yeah.
905
00:52:50,704 --> 00:52:52,372
‐In, in the war.
‐Yeah.
906
00:52:53,406 --> 00:52:56,342
That was very touching for me.
907
00:52:56,376 --> 00:53:00,947
Because wars are still today,
all over the world.
908
00:53:00,981 --> 00:53:02,549
Mm‐hm.
909
00:53:02,583 --> 00:53:05,519
And, people are killing
each other
910
00:53:05,552 --> 00:53:08,321
for reasons that are silly.
911
00:53:09,289 --> 00:53:10,824
Only political maybe, but...
912
00:53:12,258 --> 00:53:15,228
That's the deeper sense
for me in this film,
913
00:53:17,430 --> 00:53:19,365
that freedom...
914
00:53:19,399 --> 00:53:21,434
‐And peace.
‐and peace,
915
00:53:21,467 --> 00:53:23,469
is something
that we have to keep.
916
00:53:23,504 --> 00:53:26,840
For me,
it was an accomplishment.
917
00:53:26,873 --> 00:53:28,842
It was a tremendous
accomplishment.
918
00:53:28,875 --> 00:53:30,877
And I never minimized it.
919
00:53:31,812 --> 00:53:33,313
Uh, when I came back,
920
00:53:34,548 --> 00:53:36,650
to the States from Europe,
921
00:53:36,683 --> 00:53:40,420
and, uh, and I got in touch
with Betty Atkinson,
922
00:53:40,453 --> 00:53:42,689
who was John Sturges secretary.
923
00:53:42,723 --> 00:53:45,391
And Betty said, "Get out here,
John wants to see."
924
00:53:45,425 --> 00:53:48,261
John gave me a one‐day bit
925
00:53:48,294 --> 00:53:51,598
on Ice Station Zebra.
[laughing]
926
00:53:51,632 --> 00:53:54,000
You know, because I had
walked on the set
927
00:53:54,034 --> 00:53:55,869
and he says, "Are you working?"
"No."
928
00:53:55,902 --> 00:53:57,571
"Go. Well, working now."
929
00:53:57,604 --> 00:53:59,640
You know, and that was John.
930
00:53:59,673 --> 00:54:02,876
So, all these little things,
these, uh...
931
00:54:02,909 --> 00:54:05,445
There was no Star Trek
without The Great Escape.
932
00:54:06,913 --> 00:54:09,750
There was no career
without The Great Escape.
933
00:54:09,783 --> 00:54:11,652
If I walked into an office
and said,
934
00:54:11,685 --> 00:54:13,520
"I was in Captain Sindbad."
935
00:54:13,554 --> 00:54:16,757
They'd say, "Oh, really?
Oh, that's nice."
936
00:54:16,790 --> 00:54:19,826
But when I walked into
an office with my agent,
937
00:54:19,860 --> 00:54:24,665
and my agent said,
"Lawrence was a featured player
938
00:54:24,698 --> 00:54:26,432
in The Great Escape,"
939
00:54:26,466 --> 00:54:29,435
The door went, toom! [laughing]
940
00:54:29,469 --> 00:54:30,937
I mean,
there was no doubt about it.
941
00:54:31,605 --> 00:54:32,906
I got a reading.
942
00:54:32,939 --> 00:54:34,975
If I didn't get the part
at least I got the reading.
943
00:54:35,008 --> 00:54:37,744
But I always got a reading.
944
00:54:37,778 --> 00:54:41,414
And, it wasn't one studio
or two studios.
945
00:54:41,447 --> 00:54:44,017
I'm talking about
10, 15 studios.
946
00:54:44,050 --> 00:54:47,554
Paramount, Warner Brothers,
Columbia, you name it, MGM.
947
00:54:49,089 --> 00:54:51,758
Every door was open to me.
948
00:54:51,792 --> 00:54:53,059
Not because of Star Trek.
949
00:54:54,394 --> 00:54:55,328
The Great Escape.
950
00:54:56,863 --> 00:54:58,832
[narrator] A lot of movies
had been produced
951
00:54:58,865 --> 00:55:00,967
since The Great Escape
made its debut
952
00:55:01,001 --> 00:55:04,104
in theaters
in the summer of 1963.
953
00:55:04,137 --> 00:55:06,973
And many of them
have become classics.
954
00:55:07,007 --> 00:55:08,575
But year after year,
955
00:55:08,609 --> 00:55:11,845
the fans returned
to the green meadows of Bavaria
956
00:55:11,878 --> 00:55:15,048
to see a story
that always ends the same way,
957
00:55:15,081 --> 00:55:17,851
with Steve McQueen
bouncing his baseball
958
00:55:17,884 --> 00:55:19,953
against the brick wall
of the cooler.
959
00:55:19,986 --> 00:55:22,823
And the German guard
pausing to listen
960
00:55:22,856 --> 00:55:24,891
to that immortal sound.
961
00:55:24,925 --> 00:55:27,661
Director John Sturges,
once explained
962
00:55:27,694 --> 00:55:29,663
that the story
of The Great Escape
963
00:55:29,696 --> 00:55:32,966
was all about
the indomitable spirit
of mankind,
964
00:55:32,999 --> 00:55:36,937
and its desire
to seek freedom at any cost.
965
00:55:36,970 --> 00:55:39,372
As far as Sturges
was concerned,
966
00:55:39,405 --> 00:55:42,976
it was reason the Allies
won World War II.
967
00:55:43,009 --> 00:55:46,813
Perhaps, we all
need to be inspired
by such thoughts.
968
00:55:46,847 --> 00:55:48,582
At the very end
when Steve goes in
969
00:55:48,615 --> 00:55:51,952
and bounces the baseball,
once more,
970
00:55:51,985 --> 00:55:54,621
you hear this sound,
971
00:55:54,655 --> 00:55:56,523
and the guard stops
for a second
972
00:55:56,557 --> 00:55:57,791
and looks back
over his shoulder
973
00:55:57,824 --> 00:55:58,925
and then you go to end titles.
974
00:55:59,893 --> 00:56:01,928
That guard is
975
00:56:01,962 --> 00:56:04,030
the second assistant director
in the picture.
976
00:56:04,064 --> 00:56:05,098
German gentleman.
977
00:56:06,166 --> 00:56:08,001
Unlike on all pictures
like this,
978
00:56:08,034 --> 00:56:11,037
where you run out of actors,
979
00:56:11,071 --> 00:56:13,607
so, you throw everybody,
a uniform on everybody
980
00:56:13,640 --> 00:56:15,509
and you all get to act.
981
00:56:15,542 --> 00:56:17,844
But, here's a guy
who understood.
982
00:56:17,878 --> 00:56:20,747
And John took it
very slow and easy
983
00:56:20,781 --> 00:56:23,049
‐and said you know,
"When you hear that,
‐[lock clicks]
984
00:56:23,083 --> 00:56:25,852
that means you didn't win."
985
00:56:26,853 --> 00:56:27,921
[ball bouncing]
986
00:56:27,954 --> 00:56:30,591
He's locked up, but you lost.
987
00:56:30,624 --> 00:56:32,025
[ball bouncing]
988
00:56:32,058 --> 00:56:33,927
And that's what, I think,
makes that moment so good.
989
00:56:34,928 --> 00:56:36,496
[narrator] And don't forget,
990
00:56:36,530 --> 00:56:39,132
that return to The Great Escape
each year,
991
00:56:39,165 --> 00:56:40,667
does leave you humming
992
00:56:40,701 --> 00:56:44,137
that brilliant
Elmer Bernstein score,
993
00:56:44,170 --> 00:56:48,809
and wondering,
just when will Virgil Hilts
994
00:56:48,842 --> 00:56:53,580
see Berlin from the ground
or the air.
995
00:56:53,614 --> 00:56:58,619
[soft instrumental music
playing]