Very well done prison escape movie. I love the amount of time they spend showing them actually digging / filing away at things. It should be so monotonous but it ends up being very immersing.
Jacques Becker - "The fascinating thing about this story is that it is completely true. About ten years ago, I read a newspaper account of an attempted escape from La Santé Prison and of how five prisoners spent four months digging their way into the Paris sewers. They were caught within minutes of freedom because one of them betrayed the plan to the prison authorities. The ingenuity of their scheme and the courage of the undertaking intrigued me both as a man and as a filmmaker. I prepared a rough draft of a scenario based on the incident; however, due to a previous work commitment, I had to set it aside. Several years later, I discovered that José Giovanni had used the same story as the basis for a best-selling novel. My interest in the project was immediately rekindled. I contracted the book's publisher (Gallimard) and expressed my interest in the screen rights to the novel. Giovanni, himself a former prisoner, was most particular about how his book should be filmed and we spent many long hours discussing the project. Finally, the author agreed that I should make the film and he became my principal collaborator in the preparation of the screenplay. So that the film could be as authentic as possible, we enlisted as technical consultants three members of the original escape who, having served their sentences, were now living in Paris. Among these three men was Jean Keraudy, who plays Roland in the film.
In keeping with our aim to make Le trou totally realistic, I cast the five leading roles with nonprofessional actors. I avoided 'known' personalities because I wanted five men audiences could identify as real people and not as stars 'play-acting' in a new part.
I desired the same sense of naturalism which Vittorio De Sica obtained so perfectly from his amateur players in The Bicycle Thief. Most of the film was shot in the sections of La Santé where the original escape attempt had taken place. Our studio sets, built under the supervision of our three experts, were authentic to the smallest detail.
During the three months of filming, we worked and lived together very much like a family. I feel that this very close personal and professional relationship between cast and crew added much to the production and enabled me to obtain the maximum from both sides of the camera."
One of the best prison escape films I've ever seen. I never thought it would be so exciting to see a group of prisoners dig tunnels. The lack of music makes the film suspenseful and gives it a very realistic feel. I really had the feeling like I was there with the prisoners, and you really hope they succeed in digging the tunnel without the guards noticing. The ending was a shocker and I'm still in awe of it.
So glad I came across icheckmovies.com! Le Trou was one of four movies in the Crime category that I hadn't seen (hadn't even heard of it before), so I decided to see it. And I am so glad I did!
I loved the film and it's my favorite prison/escape movie by far. I sat on the edge the entire running time and kept trying to look over their shoulders for guards. It's been long since a movie had me this involved.
This is a real story, made after an autobiographic novel. It's interesting to know that Jean Keraudy (not his real name) plays his own part here. Certainly one of the reasons why the engineering/digging scenes are so realistic, and so good.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 27
JStein
Very well done prison escape movie. I love the amount of time they spend showing them actually digging / filing away at things. It should be so monotonous but it ends up being very immersing.K.
Warning! Spoilers ahead.Jacques Becker - "The fascinating thing about this story is that it is completely true. About ten years ago, I read a newspaper account of an attempted escape from La Santé Prison and of how five prisoners spent four months digging their way into the Paris sewers. They were caught within minutes of freedom because one of them betrayed the plan to the prison authorities. The ingenuity of their scheme and the courage of the undertaking intrigued me both as a man and as a filmmaker. I prepared a rough draft of a scenario based on the incident; however, due to a previous work commitment, I had to set it aside. Several years later, I discovered that José Giovanni had used the same story as the basis for a best-selling novel. My interest in the project was immediately rekindled. I contracted the book's publisher (Gallimard) and expressed my interest in the screen rights to the novel. Giovanni, himself a former prisoner, was most particular about how his book should be filmed and we spent many long hours discussing the project. Finally, the author agreed that I should make the film and he became my principal collaborator in the preparation of the screenplay. So that the film could be as authentic as possible, we enlisted as technical consultants three members of the original escape who, having served their sentences, were now living in Paris. Among these three men was Jean Keraudy, who plays Roland in the film.
In keeping with our aim to make Le trou totally realistic, I cast the five leading roles with nonprofessional actors. I avoided 'known' personalities because I wanted five men audiences could identify as real people and not as stars 'play-acting' in a new part.
I desired the same sense of naturalism which Vittorio De Sica obtained so perfectly from his amateur players in The Bicycle Thief. Most of the film was shot in the sections of La Santé where the original escape attempt had taken place. Our studio sets, built under the supervision of our three experts, were authentic to the smallest detail.
During the three months of filming, we worked and lived together very much like a family. I feel that this very close personal and professional relationship between cast and crew added much to the production and enabled me to obtain the maximum from both sides of the camera."
Forrester
One of the best prison escape films I've ever seen. I never thought it would be so exciting to see a group of prisoners dig tunnels. The lack of music makes the film suspenseful and gives it a very realistic feel. I really had the feeling like I was there with the prisoners, and you really hope they succeed in digging the tunnel without the guards noticing. The ending was a shocker and I'm still in awe of it.HighCaliber
So glad I came across icheckmovies.com! Le Trou was one of four movies in the Crime category that I hadn't seen (hadn't even heard of it before), so I decided to see it. And I am so glad I did!I loved the film and it's my favorite prison/escape movie by far. I sat on the edge the entire running time and kept trying to look over their shoulders for guards. It's been long since a movie had me this involved.
GoonerCinephile
I've just finished watching it and I'm stunned!!!!Windill
This is a real story, made after an autobiographic novel. It's interesting to know that Jean Keraudy (not his real name) plays his own part here. Certainly one of the reasons why the engineering/digging scenes are so realistic, and so good.TheMajor
Damn, this film is good.heat_
That movie is explicit example of an utterly underrated movie. A timeless masterpiece.Hippiemans
Slow but one exiting ride!xrobin87x
great! one of the best movies in this subgenreDieguito
Formidable!Brantastic16
Fantastic. I was lucky enough to have seen this in my Grade 11 French class. Surprisingly, nearly everyone in my class loved it.Emiam
7/10Exciting and good length, never feels slow. Is not so sure I like the end. Thus nothing said.
On several top lists, classic.
Gabor.
this has to be one the best prison escape movielocovoco
My hands hurt after watching this movie...but in a good wayShowing items 1 – 15 of 27