Two Years After Its Release, Michael Caine's Final Movie Role Is Finally Available to Watch in the U.S.

Michael Caine is a living legend who has contributed countless great performances over the course of his career, and has been surprisingly active within the past decade. Although it's reported that he may be reprising his role in the sequel to The Last Witch Hunter alongside Vin Diesel, Caine had announced that his final film would be The Great Escaper, a British drama based on the true story of World War II veteran Bernard Jordan. While the hype surrounding Caine’s last work and familiarity with the real Jordan allowed The Great Escaper to become a moderate box office success in England, the film was not made available in the United States until it became accessible for free on the PBS Masterpiece streaming service.

Jordan had served in D-Day and gone on to find the love of his life in Rene (Glenda Jackson), who he remained married to for over 70 years. The Great Escaper tells the remarkable story of how Jordan snuck out of his retirement care facility so that he could attend a ceremony celebrating the anniversary of D-Day, in which veterans gathered to remember the fallen. While it's a remarkable story that is automatically intriguing, The Great Escaper is made more powerful as a tribute to Caine’s entire career. Even in his 90s, Caine proves that he can deliver nuanced, moving performances that serve as a reminder as to why he is an all-time great.

‘The Great Escaper’ Is Based on an Inspiring True Story

The Great Escaper is remarkably sensitive in dealing with veterans' issues, as Jordan contends with the fact that he was inadvertently part of history. Although there are moments from his experience in the thick of combat that he finds impossible to forget entirely, Jordan has also become comfortable with moving on and remaining in the facility, as he has never wanted anything more than the love of his life. The Great Escaper shows how military service can be inextricable, as Jordan’s attempt to join the celebration isn’t as motivated by personal desire as it is by feelings of obligation. It’s through his journey to attend the ceremony that Jordan can consider both how lucky he has been and contemplate the toll that those fateful days had on the rest of his life. While the liberation of France was obviously a turning point in world history that allowed for the defeat of the Nazi movement, it was also a turning point in Jordan’s life when he decided that being committed to Rene was what he would find most fulfilling.

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The Great Escape is a quiet, pensive film that shows that Caine is at his best when Jordan is given the chance to share his knowledge and experience. One of the most moving components of the film is Jordan’s relationship with Arthur Howard-Johnson (John Standing), a fellow veteran who has brought a company of friends to join him at the ceremony. While Jordan first assumes that Arthur has gone on to find fulfillment in the years of his life that he gave away to the military, it’s revealed that he has suffered from alcoholism and depression. Jordan’s attempts to help a younger veteran, Scott (Victor Oshin), cope with similar issues is not only an extension of his kindness, but a means of him honoring the memories of his comrade, Douglas Bennett (Elliott Norman), who had been killed during D-Day.

‘The Great Escaper’ Is the Culmination of Michael Caine’s Career

The Great Escaper is a reflection of Caine’s real life and most famous roles, as he has real ties to World War II and war films. Caine’s family was one of many forced to flee London during the bombings of 1940 and 1941, and he later served in the British Army from 1951 to 1953. The precision and eloquence that Caine shows when detailing Jordan’s training and duty make it evident that he has drawn from his own background to make the characterization feel as authentic as possible. It also serves as a loose continuation of the many classic war films that Caine has starred in, such as Zulu, A Bridge Too Far, Battle of Britain, and The Eagle Has Landed. Given that he is already associated with playing these roles as a younger man, it's more believable to see Caine as an older veteran who is forced to recall his past trauma. Although there’s always the potential that a story like this could feel melodramatic, Caine honors Jordan in a way that feels respectful.

The Great Escaper is a much more nuanced film than its heartwarming presence suggests, as it contemplates the futility of war and examines how easily the past can fade into memory, which is best embodied by a scene in which Jordan finds that he is able to make peace with German soldiers who served in the same battle. It’s also a film undercut by tragedy because of the death of his legendary co-star, as Jackson passed away only shortly before the film was released. However, The Great Escaper is a fitting role for Caine to take as his last because it's entirely reliant on his star power and the metatextual relationship that he has with the material. In an age where many of Hollywood’s living legends have found themselves starring in direct-to-VOD B-movies, Caine is able to give a quiet, old-fashioned, and incredibly moving performance that sheds light on a real story that clearly resonated with him.

The Great Escaper is available to rent or buy on VOD services in the U.S.

Release Date October 6, 2023

Director Oliver Parker

Writers William Ivory