The Great Escape (1963)

Donald Pleasence: Blythe 'The Forger'

Photos 

Quotes 

• Colin : Afraid this tea's pathetic. Must have used these wretched leaves about twenty times. It's not that I mind so much. Tea without milk is so uncivilized.

• Colin : Thank you for getting me out.

• Colin : You know, he's right. he's right. I really shouldn't go. My eyes have been getting worse and worse. I think they call it progressive Myopia. I can see things up here.

  [looks at pin] 

  Colin : yes I can see it well, but, you're just a blur.

  Hendley : I know. Ah, Hell, we'll make it in great shape. Colin, do you have any tea?

  Colin : Yes, of course.

  Hendley : Let's have some.

  Colin : Splendid.

• Bartlett : Gentlemen, no doubt you've heard the immortal words of our new commandant: devote your energies to things other than escape, and sit out the war as comfortably as possible.

  Sedgwick : [derisively]  Ha!

  Bartlett : Well, that's exactly what we're going to do. We're going to devote our energies to sports and gardening, all the cultural pursuits as far as they're concerned. In fact, we're going to put the goons to sleep. Meanwhile, we dig. Now, even a superficial look at the compound shows us that Huts 104 and 5 are closest to the woods. The first tunnel goes out from 105, directly east under the vorlager, the cooler, and the wire.

  Willie : But that's over three hundred feet, Roger!

  Bartlett : Did you make a survey, Dennis?

  Cavendish : Only a temporary one, sir. I make it just over three hundred and thirty-five feet.

  Bartlett : Let me know when you've got an exact one. Willie, this time we'll dig straight down thirty feet before we go horizontal. That'll rule out any question of sound detection or probing.

  Willie : All right, Roger. But did you say "the first tunnel"?

  Bartlett : I did. There will be three. We'll call them Tom, Dick, and Harry. Tom, as I said, goes out directly east from 104. Dick goes north from the kitchen, and Harry goes out parallel to Tom from 105. If the goons find one, we'll move into the other.

  MacDonald : How many men do you plan to take out, Roger?

  Bartlett : Two hundred and fifty.

  [Shocked stares] 

  Bartlett : There will be no half-measures this time, gentlemen. There will be identification papers and documents for everyone. And Griff, we'll need outfits for the lot.

  Griffith : Two hundred and fifty?

  Bartlett : Mostly civilian clothes.

  Griffith : Yes, but, um... okay, Roger.

  Bartlett : Mac. Maps, blankets, rations, compasses for all the walkers, and timetables for every train.

  MacDonald : Right, Roger.

  [Blythe enters] 

  Colin : Sorry I'm late, Roger.

  Bartlett : It's all right, Colin. Sit down. We're going to tunnel.

  Colin : Splendid.

  Bartlett : Willie, you and Danny will be tunnel kings. Danny, you'll be in charge of traps, and I'll work out the exact location with you tomorrow.

  Danny : Good.

  Bartlett : Sedgwick, manufacturer. Griffith, I said, tailor. Nimmo and Hayes, diversions. Mac, of course, will take care of intelligence. Hendley? We haven't met. Scrounger?

• Colin : Tea?

  Hendley : I only drank tea once - in a hospital.

• [repeated line] 

  Colin : Splendid!

• Colin : Tea without milk is so uncivilised.

• Blythe 'The Forger' : You're the scrounger.

  Hendley : Yes, that's right.

  Blythe 'The Forger' : I'll need a camera.

  Hendley : What kind?

  Blythe 'The Forger' : A good one. A 35mm F2.8 with a focal plane shutter should do all right.

  Hendley : All right.

  Blythe 'The Forger' : And film, of course.

  Hendley : Oh, of course.

• Colin : I can't see a bloody thing!

• Hendley 'The Scrounger' : [Referring to the moonshine they're drinking]  You know what that is?

  Blythe 'The Forger' : I'll tell you what it isn't. It isn't Napoleon Brandy... .