This film screened on Sunday  24th March 2019.

March 24th 2019 marks the 75th anniversary of the real-life POW escape during World War II from the Luftwaffe-run Stalag Luft III prison in then German-occupied Poland. In honour of this, historian and broadcaster Dan Snow hosts a commemorative evening at the Eventim Apollo in London. The event will be live broadcast as a pre-show across cinemas in the UK and Ireland, followed by the Steve McQueen classic The Great Escape (1963) presented in a 4K restoration.

John Sturges dramatisation of the true story of a group of British, American and Canadian POWs who successfully escaped from Stalag Luft III in Upper Silesia in March 1944 is arguably the best World War II adventure film ever made. A host of big-name stars meshes beautifully in this meticulous recreation of the legendary escape. Although this is a film about courage, Sturges wisely takes a low-key approach, leavened with humour, rather than allowing the cast to indulge in macho antics.

RUNNING ORDER: 
18.00 Live Show
19.05 Interval
19.15 The Great Escape – Part 1
20.55 Interval
21.10 The Great Escape – Part 2
22.30 Event ends