The film was directed by John Sturges, who had previously directed a range of other notable films, including "The Magnificent Seven" and "Bad Day at Black Rock." Sturges brings a sense of scope and grandeur to the film, using a combination of location shooting and studio sets to recreate the prison camp and the tunnels.

The Hindi dubbed version of the film was released under the same title, "The Great Escape," and was distributed by a leading Indian film distributor. The film was a major hit in India, and helped to establish Steve McQueen as a major star in the country.

The film's trailer is available on YouTube and other online platforms, and features a range of memorable clips and quotes from the film.