I loved the movie as a kid, and bought Paul Brickhill’s book at my grade-school book fair. That is where I learned about the far-more chilling reality of how the 50 recaptured prisoners were killed. I still love the movie knowing that it is the Hollywood version of what actually took place. I think it is important to also know the true history, so we don’t just glorify the actors playing a role and give the real prisoners their proper due.
By the way, The Wooden Horse is also an amazing escape book and movie, telling the story of a much smaller but no less thrilling escape from the same POW camp.
Escape From Sobibor, with Alan Arkin, is also a good movie. It also adhered rather closely with reality.