Reportedly Michael Caine’s last film and definitely Glenda Jackson’s last because she died not long after it was completed, this widely reported true story is further proof that old British actors, male and female, can still not only find work, but leading roles. Caine plays Bernard Jordan, an 89-year-old resident of a care facility who in 2014 sneaks out without permission to attend the 70th anniversary of D-Day celebrations in Normandy, having been there on the fateful day as a member of the Royal Navy. Jackson plays his wife, Irene, who doesn’t go due to her ill health, but supports his decision, which eventually interests media that absolutely love the fact that this old codger is misbehaving for nominally patriotic reasons. In fact, his reasons are slightly more complicated than they think, and if the movie turned out differently from where I thought it was going, it had more to do with what I tend to expect from these kinds of movies. But it doesn’t stray far from the formula, and I thought it lost several opportunities along the way. But that’s the problem with “true stories”: You have to stick to what really happened.

There’s not a whole lot of suspense generated by Jordan’s subterfuge, which involves Irene covering for him by telling the staff he’s out for an early walk as he boards the cross-channel ferry and becomes part of a group of other British veterans on their way to the bash. The joke here is that Jordan needed to sign up with an excursion in order to attend, and his care home forgot to make the application, thus forcing him to sneak out. But once he does he becomes part of a group anyway, which includes an alcoholic RAF veteran (John Standing) who, like Jordan, has a secret score to settle in France. There’s also a younger, PTSD-rattled veteran of a more recent war who can’t quite handle the excitement, as well as a bunch of Germans who were likely shooting at them on the beach. Invariably, the film includes some tepid flashback scenes of Jordan’s and Irene’s courtship, as well as an extended bit about the landing itself where Jordan has to calm down a tank driver. 

The director, Oliver Parker, has trouble maintaining a tone, what with Irene cracking wise with the care staff back in Blighty and Jordan addressing very difficult emotions in France, as well as with the memories of those who didn’t survive. If I had to choose, I would take Jackson over Caine simply because Jackson has the more colorful role. Caine is pretty much what you would expect Michael Caine to be like in such a movie. It seems almost too easy for him, but you can tell Jackson gave Parker probably more than he asked for, and I liked that. 

Opens Oct. 11 in Tokyo at Toho Cinemas Chanter Hibiya (050-6868-5001), Toho Cinemas Shinjuku (050-6868-5063), Human Trust Cinema Shibuya (03-5468-5551).

The Great Escaper home page in Japanese

photo (c) 2023 Pathe Movies