Reasons to Watch The Great Escaper
Showcasing a truly star-studded cast, a captivating true story, and a heartfelt love story, The Great Escaper is a drama that will leave a lasting impression. Discover why Michael Caine described it as his "happiest picture," and don’t miss the chance to experience this unforgettable story yourself. Tune in to The Great Escaper on Sunday, November 23, at 9/8c, exclusively on MASTERPIECE on PBS.
Tells the True Story Behind the Headlines
When 89-year-old Bernard “Bernie” Jordan made a “great escape” from his care home to attend the 70th D-Day celebrations in 2014, he never expected to make global headlines. In fact, he was shocked to return from Normandy to find his care home surrounded by reporters.
Alternating between the 1940s and modern day, The Great Escaper follows young Bernie’s role in the D-Day Landings on June 6, 1944. As an electrician operating the landing craft on the beaches, Bernie witnessed countless casualties, returning decades later to face his demons.
More than a moving, true story, there's also a love story at the heart of the show. Rene, Bernie's loving wife of 70 years, recounts the early years of their romance, while Bernie makes his trip to Normandy solo.
At the 70th D-Day celebrations, Bernie finds that he is not the only veteran in attendance who is hoping to make peace with the past. The Great Escaper tells the real story behind Bernie's headline-making journey.
Two Iconic Actors Lead the Cast
For the first time in 50 years, British icons of the stage and screen Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson reunited for The Great Escaper, delivering compelling performances as husband-and-wife duo Bernie and Rene Jordan.
Caine received the script when he was 89, and came out of retirement to star in The Great Escaper. Caine said he related to the emotion and anxiety that Bernie experienced when he was thrown into the media spotlight. Like Bernie, Caine too was “an old Cockney soldier who got a lot of publicity.”
Sadly, The Great Escaper was Glenda Jackson's final role, as the treasured actor passed away at the age of 87 in 2023. Of her work on The Great Escaper, director Oliver Parker, “Emotions pour out of her, yet she’s not sentimental, she’s fierce, and this was perfect for the role of Rene.”
Story of Enduring Love
At the core of The Great Escaper lies a deeply moving love story. Through tender and poignant moments, the drama captures the wartime romance between young Bernie (Will Fletcher) and Rene (Laura Marcus, recently seen as young Eliza Scarlet in Miss Scarlet and The Duke).
Bernie and Rene Jordan are based on the real-life couple who, at the time of Bernie’s journey to Normandy, were celebrating 70 years together. The show offers a heartfelt glimpse into their love that not only survived the trials of war, but flourished across a lifetime.
Inspired by Historical Events
Whether you’re a history buff, a veteran, or someone inspired by powerful true stories, Bernie’s courage and resilience will inspire you as you witness him revisiting a harrowing era of his life. “It was extraordinary to consider a man [at 89 years old] returning to the source of the trauma he experienced as a 19-year-old,” said producer Robert Bernstein.
Bernie’s story is one among the many untold stories of the Greatest Generation. “He is the perfect example of a generation who did their duty, but didn’t feel they had to tell people what they had done,” Gary Dunn, friend of Bernie’s commented to the Daily Mail at the time of Bernie’s escape.
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