Check out a new image from The Great Escaper in celebration of Glenda Jackson’s Birthday

To celebrate the 87th birthday of Academy Award-winning actress and former MP, Glenda Jackson, Pathé has today released a new still from her upcoming film, The Great Escaper.

The film sees two-time Oscar winner and four-time nominee, Glenda Jackson (Hedda, A Touch of Class, Sunday Bloody Sunday and Women in Love) reunited with two-time Oscar winner and six-time nominee, Michael Caine (The Quiet American, The Cider House Rules, Hannah and Her Sisters, Educating Rita, Sleuth and Alfie). It will open in UK cinemas later this year.

THE GREAT ESCAPER is directed by the BAFTA nominated Oliver Parker (An Ideal Husband) from a script by BAFTA-nominee William Ivory (Made in Dagenham).

Inspired by true events, the film tells the story of octogenarian Bernard Jordan’s escape from his care home to attend the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings in France:

In the summer of 2014 Bernard Jordan (Michael Caine) made global headlines. He had staged a “great escape” from his care home to join fellow war veterans on a beach in Normandy, commemorating their fallen comrades.

It was a story that captured the imagination of the world – Bernie seemed to embody the defiant, “can-do” spirit of a generation that was fast disappearing. But of course, it wasn’t the whole story. It was the story we all tell ourselves to make war and old age bearable. The bitter-sweet script explores the reality with wit and a very big heart.

Bernie’s adventure, spanning a mere 48 hours, also marked the culmination of his 60-year marriage to Rene (Glenda Jackson) – the story celebrates their love without sentimentality and with an eye to the lessons we might all learn from the Greatest Generation.

The film is produced by BAFTA-nominees Robert Bernstein and Douglas Rae (Nowhere Boy) and is an Ecosse Films production for Pathé and BBC Film. Executive Producers are Cameron McCracken for Pathé and Eva Yates for BBC Film.

The creative team includes BAFTA-nominated Cinematographer Christopher Ross (Room), BAFTA-winner Editor Paul Tothill (Atonement), Production Designer Nick Palmer (Das Boot), BAFTA-nominee Costume Designer Emma Fryer (The Great), Hair and Make-Up by Jacqueline Fowler (War & Peace) and BAFTA-winner Composer Craig Armstrong (Moulin Rouge).

Pathé will distribute the film in the UK, France and Switzerland and is handling sales throughout the rest of the world.