Ultimate Behind-the-Scene Look At Steve McQueen, King Of Cool

The Great Escape

Steve McQueen added to his list of war-time gritty roles with The Great Escape. The movie is based on Paul Brickhill’s 1950 nonfiction book about a mass escape from a POW camp during World War II. In the movie, McQueen takes on the role of USAAF Captain Virgil Hilts, called “Cooler King” for his tendency to end up in the cooler. He’s made numerous attempts at escape, but he also refuses to show any respect for the German guards, who have warned him that they’ll shoot him if he tries to escape again.

The prisoners hatch a plan, but only three men escape, clear and free. Hilts is captured and returned to camp.