Which of these Bronson, Coburn, McQueen movies is the best?

[OtterMan68]

Charles Bronson, James Coburn, and Steve McQueen all started in the John Sturges directed films: The Magnificent Seven & The Great Escape. Which do you prefer?

The Great Escape

The Magnificent Seven

Updates

+1 y

The Great Escape probably would not be made today as it has no roles for women or minorities.

[abc3643]

I never saw The Magnificent Seven, but The Great Escape is a great movie shown every Memorial Day and Veteran's Day and Independence Day for good reason.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/LHVBD0-xTmI

[abc3643]

Unfortunately, while "The Magnificent Seven" is part of the National Film Registry for preservation as being a "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" movie, "The Great Escape" was not but most definitely should be and for two reasons:
1. "The Magnificent Seven" isn't even an original film; it is a Japanese film reimagined as a western.
2. "The Magnificent Seven" is fiction while "The Great Escape" is based on an actual historical event during WW II.

[OtterMan68]

I think the acting is overall better in the Great Escape even though Coburn's Australian accent is not convincing.
Attenborough does a fine job.

[abc3643]

"The Great Escape probably would not be made today as it has no roles for women or minorities."

This is not a fair assessment.

Since it is a POW movie, none of the POWs or German military were women, so there generally would not be any women.

As for the POWs in the camp, while there were Americans, there were mostly Commonwealth characters. Commonwealth countries, especially at the time, would not have a Black fractional population comparable to the US.
Furthermore, considering the Army wasn't integrated during WW II, there likely would not be many, if any, Black POWs in the camp. (Notice, though, that Hogan's Heroes DID have a Black character in Kinchloe.) There were other minority characters - extras - who likely would have been Hispanics.

But, really, when you think about that cast, how many characters were obviously American? Steve McQueen, James Garner, Jud Taylor. While Charles Bronson is an American, the character he played was as a Pole and was based on a Canadian. All the other actors are Commonwealth actors.

So, for historical accuracy, the cast would have a comparable demographic.

[OtterMan68]

not in 2024 Hollywood.

[abc3643]

Yes, in 2024 Hollywood.

[OtterMan68]

I'd wage a Coke there would be a British or French subject from Africa or maybe the Raj, and some woman would offer to hide one of the escapees.

[KrakenAttackin]

Tough choice! I agree the Great Escape wouldn't be made today or it would me a "Disney remake" with all black cast except for the mean, nasty Germans.

[LazerBean]

That's a toughie, but I had to go with Great escape

[Chazmatazz269]

“The Magnificent Seven”, easy because i’m not even sure i’ve seen the others. Ell oh ell! I do luv me some Charlie Bronson though! My luv for revenge flicks began with “Death Wish”, and to this day the entire franchise holds a special place in my heart.

[LiamS95]

That's a tough one as they were all real good actors in dome great films..

[legalboxers]

both were good

[Return]

Great Escape.