Did you know that a World War II veteran who made headlines in 2014 will be immortalized in film?
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Mr. Bernard Jordan as a Royal Navy officer
(Photo: military.com)
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You might recall the story of British World War II veteran Bernard Jordan making headlines back in 2014. The 89-year-old Royal Navy veteran became famous when he left his care home with his military decorations hidden under a raincoat, and traveled to the town of Ouistreham in Normandy on his own to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Mr. Jordan’s story inspired a film, The Great Escaper, which is scheduled for release on October 6, 2023, starring movie legend Michael Caine.
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Mr. Jordan receiving the Older People’s Award from his local mayor in Britain after his “escape”
(Photo: SOLENT)
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Mr. Jordan, who was present at D-Day as a Royal Navy officer, made his “escape” after the care home tried but failed to get him on an organized trip to the anniversary events. He took a train then a ferry (on which he charmed the crew so much he was promised to travel free in the future) and made it to Normandy on his own even before his disappearance was reported to the police. He was planning to repeat his trip in 2015, but has passed away peacefully earlier that year. He was not the only one who would not live to see the film: Glenda Jackson, playing Jordan’s wife Irene, passed away this summer a couple of months after she finished filming her scenes.
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Trailer for the upcoming film
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Mr. Jordan will be played my British star actor Michael Caine. Mr. Caine himself served in Europe and the Korean War, and has appeared in about a dozen World War II-themed films, including The Battle of Britain, The Eagle Has Landed, A Bridge Too Far and Escape to Victory.
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Michael Caine in A Bridge Too Far
(Image: United Artists)
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Another film based on Mr. Jordan’s life, titled The Last Rifleman and starring Pierce Brosnan, has also wrapped up filming and will be released in the future.
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