Directed by: John Sturges
The Great Escape is the story of WWII POWs planning an elaborate escape from their Nazi captors.
In the scene Hilts and Ives are taken to "the cooler" after unsatisfactory behavior in the prison camp. While in the cooler the two discuss their lives outside of the war. While talking Hilts (Steve McQueen) comes up with a plan to burrow out of the prison camp and become free men once again.
Shot 1
Hilts and Ives are taken from behind the barbwired section of the POW camp and walked to the location of "the cooler" in a long shot that tracks into a medium shot. The shot features outdoor lighting and tight framing with a normal lens.
Shot 2
Hilts, Ives, and the guards walk down the hall (longshot) towards the camera in a medium/eye level shot of the guards opening the doors while Hilts and Ives wait. The lighting is low key and the framing is tight shot with a normal lens.
Shot 3
A quick shot of Ives being placed in his cell, his rebellious smile fades to a frown. The shot is a medium shot of Ives is lit low key with a tight shot and normal lens.
Shot 4
Continues from shot 2. Hilts is placed into his cell by the guards, knocks, and hands the guards back the keys he's stolen.
Shot 5
A medium shot of Hilts exploring his cell. The camera pans with him, always staying eye level and following him as if we were in the cell with him. He jumps up and hangs on to the window bars and the camera follows him, then slumps down and throws a baseball against the cell wall, the camera always following. The lighting is low key/natural and framed tightly.
Shot 6 - 10
Share the same characteristics of scenes 3 and 5. Ives and Hilts discuss their lives outside of the war and how many escapes they've attempted in the camp. The camera cuts to whoever is speaking at the moment.
Shot 11
A low angle shot of Hilts as he continues to discuss escape attempts with Ives. The only difference with other scenes is the angle.
Shot 12 - 25
Shares the same characeristics of Hilts' scene 11 and Ives' scenes 6-10. Ives and Hilts talk about their racing days, Ives reveals he once was a jockey which sparks a plan in Hilts.
Shot 26
The scene is identical to shot 5. With the camera following Hilts as he jumps up to the window.
Shot 27
Identitcal to Ives' scene 3, except the camera tracks him walking through the cell as he discusses his days of being a jockey some more.
Shot 28
A medium shot of Hilts standing, all the characteristics the same. He checks his pocket and examines what he pulls out.
Shot 29
Identical to shot 3.
Shot 30
A medium tracking shot of Hilts as he walks to the front door of the cell and whispers to Ives. Everything remains the same.
Shot 31
Identical to Ives' scene 27.
Shot 32 - 35
Hilts and Ives discuss burrowing out of the compound in scenes identical to scene 30 and 31.
Shot 36
Hilts still talking to Ives about burrowing out. The shot is a medium shot of Hilts looking through the cell door window in high contrast lighting and tight framing.
Shot 37 - 39
The same as shot 36 but features Ives and Hilts going back and forth. They discuss how to move the dirt out.
Shot 40
The same as shot 30.
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2 comments:
Good job detailing the shots, and using shorthand in appropriate moments (when the shots repeat themselves.) Were there all straight cuts, or were there any fades or dissolves? And could you have commented on the pacing/speed of the cuts?
Thank you. They were all straight cuts. Sorry about missing the pace of the cuts. Every cut happened after one man would stop talking and the other started talking.
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