The UK branch of Twentieth Century Fox has revealed that it is planning to bring to Blu-ray two classic war films: John Sturges'
The Great Escape (1963), starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, and Franklin J. Schaffner's
Patton (1970), starring George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Stephen Young. The preliminary street date for these upcoming releases is June 3rd.
The Great Escape
During WWII, a collection of hardened Allied prisoners are kept in an 'escape-proof' German camp. Led by the 'Big X' (Richard Attenborough), the men formulate a plan for a mass breakout, digging three tunnels - Tom, Dick and Harry. The team behind the escape includes a near-blind forger of passports (Donald Pleasance), a claustrophobic tunnel-digger (Charles Bronson) and the independent American 'Cooler King' (Steve McQueen). With men like that on their side, how can they fail?
Patton
The life and times of America's most famous modern general, George Patton (George C. Scott), are recreated in this screen biography which focuses on Patton's controversial exploits during the Second World War, where he eventually gave up command of the Seventh Army after slapping a soldier and accusing him of being a coward - Patton was highly successful in his campaigns over North Africa, Sicily and parts of Europe. Scott won an Oscar for his performance but didn't accept it, and the film won a further six Academy Awards.