PADDY said:I dare say that if someone wanted GoodWear to recreate one, then JC would accomodate and do a jolly good job of it too (as with all his jackets).:eusa_clap
As I watched the film, I couldn't help but think, those German POW officers/soldiers are WAY too polite.
I understand Hilt's A2 is either a redyed Rough Wear 16159 or a Rough Wear 27752 and the best repro of the latter contract is made by Goodwear. I'm sure you can add the captain's bars and name strip, or ask John to do it. Alternatively buy an original from the contract!
An interesting thread guys. Sorry I haven't anything to add to the depth of the A2 discussion other than the fact that as far as authenticity of clothing in these old '60's/'70's war films goes I doubt anyone cared less what was right or wrong.
I am a WW2 Jeep owner/enthusiast and the quality of accuracy with Jeeps in films of this is era is laughable.
Don't get me wrong I'm not snobby about these old films in fact I love'em and I'm on side with anyone wanting to put together a "V.Hilts" outfit as we see it on the screen. Just can't see continuity pulling McQueen on his boots having the wrong rivets or the cut of his pants for ETO pilots...
Well, he rode a german BMW motorcycle in the chase scene, until he had to jump the barbed wire, and then he traded it for a Triumph.
I think I recall I got a kind of picture card from Eastman when I bought my A2 there, showing McQueen in the Great Escape and claiming that he wore an Eastman jacket.
Zaxxon
I imagine the blurb implied that the Eastman jacket was 'the same jacket' in the sense of being 'an identical design', as opposed to suggesting that Macqueen actually wore an Eastman product. I'm pretty sure the film predates the Eastman company by some years?
The main thing that always sticks in my memory (though it's been a long time since I saw the film) is just how dark the jacket was - in many shots, it looks almost black.