Renowned 90-year-old British actor Michael Caine is starring in “The Great Escaper,” based on the real-life story of a World War II veteran who escaped from a nursing home to attend the 70th anniversary of D-Day in France.
According to The Telegraph, Caine’s appearance in “The Great Escaper,” which could be his last film, will be the portrayal of British World War II veteran Bernard Jordan, who was a Royal Navy officer. The movie is based on the life of Jordan, especially his famous escape from his nursing home in 2014 to attend the 70th anniversary of D-Day in France.
According to Military.com, Jordan escaped from The Pines nursing home at the age of 89 after being denied the opportunity to embark on a return trip to Normandy with the Royal British Legion.
On June 5, 2014, Jordan left The Pines in Hove, England, at roughly 10:30 in the morning. When the World War II veteran failed to return to The Pines or check in with staff by that evening, a police search was conducted.
However, by 10:30 p.m., a younger veteran called The Pines and assured Jordan’s nursing home that the elderly veteran was fine and was staying at a hotel in Ouistreham, located near Caen, France. Jordan had taken a train to Brighton before embarking on a trip across the English Channel to France.
Jordan’s impressive escape from his nursing home resulted in significant media attention, resulting in the World War II veteran being nicknamed the “Great Escapee,” according to Military.com.
While Jordan had announced his plan to escape again from his nursing home in 2015 to attend the 71st anniversary of D-Day, the World War II veteran passed away peacefully in January of 2015.
According to The Daily Caller, Caine is also a British military veteran. The iconic actor discussed his experience in the Korean War during an interview with The Telegraph.
“[W]hen I was 19, they sent me to Korea – which was not a very nice idea for your 19th birthday. I wasn’t a big professional soldier, and it wasn’t a big war,” the British actor said. “The Korean War was like the First World War; we all lived in trenches and fought each other in the dark, but I was still s—t scared, as everybody else was. So I understood those things – death and close friends dying and getting injured.”
With his own experience as a military veteran, Caine said he was “so happy” to play the part of Jordan in “The Great Escaper.”
“I just loved the character of Bernie,” he said. “I thought he was incredible, and it’s so beautifully written.”
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