“There are no leading roles for 90-year-olds” – with these words, the legendary British actor Michael Caine finally confirmed the end of his career. On October 19, the last film with his participation, the adventure drama comedy The Great Escaper, will be released in cinemas.
Based on a true story
The film is based on a true story that made headlines around the world about 89-year-old British World War II veteran Bernard Jordan, who escaped from a nursing home in Hove in 2014 to attend an event in France dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings. But he could not escape quietly: the man’s disappearance caused a real stir in his hometown.
The star cast
The main roles in the film are played by prominent British actors Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson.
Caine is the winner of many prestigious awards, including two Academy Awards, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards. In history, only two actors – he and Jack Nicholson – have been nominated for an Oscar in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.
Caine is best known for his collaboration with British director Christopher Nolan, and has appeared in eight of his films, including The Dark Knight trilogy. The audience could also see the actor in the films Now You See Me, Boyhood, The Cider House Rules, Alfie and many others.
His co-star Glenda Jackson has been nominated for four Oscars and won two. She also has four Emmy nominations, six BAFTA nominations and eight Golden Globe nominations. She is one of the few actresses to have won the so-called American “Triple Crown of Acting” – the main acting awards: “Oscar (twice), Emmy (twice) and Tony.
The Great Escaper was Glenda Jackson’s final appearance on screen. She died in June 2023, after a short illness at the age of 87, nine months after the completion of the film.
Prior to working on The Great Escaper, Caine and Jackson had last acted together 48 years earlier in The Romantic Englishwoman in 1975.
The famous director
The film was directed by Oliver Parker, who is known for his extensive work in British comedies. Among them, for example, is a collaboration with Rowan Atkinson, known for his role of Mr. Bean, in the movie Johnny English Reborn. Viewers may also know Parker from his film Dorian Gray, as well as the cult dilogy Hellraiser.
For his work on An Ideal Husband, Oliver Parker was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay.
The director described his collaboration with Kane as follows: “He’s fantastic. He just loves to act. And he still loves to make jokes.”
Experienced production team
The film was produced by Douglas Ray, who previously worked on Becoming Jane with Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy, Mrs Brown with Judi Dench, Charlotte Gray with Cate Blanchett and many others.
Cameron McCracker (Slumdog Millionaire) and Eve Yates (Aftersun) are also executive producers.
Music score
The film’s score was composed by Craig Armstrong, winner of two BAFTAs and one Grammy, known for his work on the films Moulin Rouge and Romeo + Juliet. Armstrong was also appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire at the 2010 New Year’s Eve ceremony for his contribution to music.
The composer has previously collaborated with director Oliver Parker – in 2007 on the film Elizabeth: The Golden Age”.
