The Great Escape (Elmer Bernstein)
(1963)
The Great Escape remains to this day one of the most famous and most entertaining films ever made. I really do envy motion picture audiences of the golden and silver ages of film. Back then, artistic distinction actually did seem to have been put into action blockbusters, whereas today, action blockbusters amount to CGI garbage like Avatar and other films that are just exaggerated to the highest possible degree in an attempt to entertain empty headed idiots. The Great Escape was made in 1963, and today, nearly half a century later, it remains the very top of its game.
The exact same can be said for Elmer Bernstein’s classic score to the film. Bernstein was a regular collaborator with director John Sturges; their previous collaboration, The Magnificent Seven, had of course produced one of the most recognisable themes in film history and a defining score of the western genre. Likewise, the main theme for The Great Escape is one of film’s best known. Honestly, who wouldn’t recognise it? Bernstein conducted a performance of it in London, celebrating his 80th birthday in 2002, and the audience started whistling along. The main theme crops up numerous times during the score at just the right moments, and to be honest, it cropping up two dozen more times wouldn’t be a deterring factor.
So is the rest of the score as good? Hell yes! Bernstein’s score consists of about 90 minutes of music, and each and every cue has its worth. No dull moments. Just 90 minutes of some of the greatest film music ever written.
Whilst there have been numerous releases of this score over the years, the only one that will suffice for a serious fan will be the 3 disc Intrada one. Aside from the 2 discs containing the full 90 minutes of Bernstein’s score, the third disc contains the music from the original 1963 United Artists album.
The Great Escape is one of few scores that genuinely deserves the “classic masterpiece” title. Honestly, film music, indeed music doesn’t get any better than this. Very sadly, the composer of this masterpiece died before it was released in its full glory. However, it remains a wonderful tribute to one of the greatest composers ever to work in film. Anybody who doesn’t love this music needs to see a doctor as a matter of urgency.
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Track Listing
Disc 1
1. Main Title 2:30
2. At First Glance 3:07
3. Premature Plans 2:28
4. If At Once 2:31
5. Forked 1:28
6. Cooler 1:58
7. Mole 1:28
8. “X”/Tonight We Dig 1:30
9. The Scrounger/Blythe 3:50
10. Water Faucet 1:23
11. Interruptus 1:33
12. The Plan/The Sad Ives 1:43
13. Green Thumbs 2:28
14. Hilts And Ives 0:38
15. Cave In 2:01
16. Restless Men 1:56
17. Booze 1:47
18. “Yankee Doodle” 0:55
19. Discovery 3:40
Disc 2
1. Various Troubles 3:52
2. Panic 2:05
3. Pin Trick 0:59
4. Hendley’s Risk 1:43
5. Released Again/Escape Time 5:25
6. 20 Feet Short 3:06
7. Foul Up 2:37
8. At The Station 1:33
9. On The Road 3:27
10. The Chase/First Casualty 6:49
11. Flight Plan 2:09
12. More Action/Hilts Captured 6:07
13. Road’s End 2:06
14. Betrayal 2:20
15. Three Gone/Home Again 3:13
16. Finale/The Cast 2:47
Disc 3
1. Main Title 2:07
2. Premature Plans 2:08
3. Cooler And Mole 2:26
4. Blythe 2:13
5. Discovery 2:54
6. Various Troubles 2:40
7. On The Road 2:54
8. Betrayal 2:05
9. Hendley’s Risk 2:24
10. Road’s End 2:00
11. More Action 1:57
12. The Chase 2:48
13. Finale 3:14
Credits
Music Composed and Conducted by Elmer Bernstein
Orchestrations by Leo Shuken and Jack Hayes
Album Produced by Douglass Fake
Awards
None
Insert Notes
The liner notes contain detailed information about both the score and the film itself.
All images and artwork are Copyright © MGM