The Great Escape - Bud Ekins Interview - 1998

[@gnm109]

Bud was a great guy, I first met him in 1957 when he had his first bike shop in Tarzana, CA. He always helped his customers. He was also a terrific motorcycle rider as well. You could tell when they cut Bud into the jump scene. McQueen suddenly got several inches taller. LOL.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

Ekins did several of the stunts in the Bullitt movie as well.

[@jeffsmith2022]

How fortunate for all of them to work together on this outstanding film...

[@robertdean1929]

My all time favorite movie of all times.love the jump scene.

[@doncollins786]

Ekins also did the stunts for Then Came Bronson. He picked a Sportster for the Bronson bike, because he said he couldn't do the stunts on a Big Twin Harley. My best friend was the real Jim Bronson, Birney Jarvis.

[@budgiebreder]

I didnt realise he played both thr germans and his own character. Well done editors!

[@wendelldallas7572]

0:40 - "Got a suit? Get it on, we're gonna meet the director" ^ I can totally see McQueen saying it exactly that way, just as it was relayed in the story here.

[@televisionarchivestudios1130]

Bud Ekins also did the Motorcycle jump on Happy Days when Fonzie jumped over 14 Garbage Cans

[@Desmo904]

I so desperately want a 'director's edition' of the movie where the 'Cooler King' makes the jump! Can you imagine?

[@Radnally]

Would Not miss it when it came on tv

[@31cify]

People at the time really thought it was Steve who did the jump, and was it so absurd for them to assume that? We knew Steve was probably capable of such a stunt. It couldn't really have been allowed though, could it? In Sturges' mind, Steve was an actor, not a stuntman, and it would have been imperative for another person to attempt something like that unless you're prepared to risk the entire production and violate insurance regulations.

[@trudimcpherson55]

Steve's wife Neile said he actually did that jump unbeknown to those in charge! He was very capable!

[@davido1953]

James Garner said whenever The Great Escape came on tv that he would sit and watch some of it.

[@gregekins2376]

Transgarp, Thanks for Posting, see you at the next corner, Brraaaaappp

[@mikefitchNYC1971]

Awesome interviews

[@t.h.acrofilmcinema]

I am here after Once upon a time in hollywood

[@cwalenta656]

Great chase scene. Watching it as a kid I remember thinking to myself....get off and get through the wire!

[@DrDennis]

Best damn movie

[@h.callahan5864]

Awesome stuff. How was the suspension modified? Probably not very much. Thanks for sharing.

[@MrAdhiyoga]

Is it possible to do the stunt on the new bonneville?

[@bill2953]

I've never understood how the editor was nominated for an oscar for such a hatchet cut. Couldn't Stugess have placed a 2nd camera and done the pickup shot? Oh well lol

[@richmeister1]

I wonder how far you could get on a TR25? I can picture it hanging upside down in the wires.

[@Voice-Actor]

Not even to Munich! ;-)

[@rdeEKINS]

Good vid :)

[@Jinka1950]

For many years Steve McQueen told the public that he did the jump. That’s McQueen’s ego. He could’ve explained the insurance situation. But whatever

[@bbb462cid]

Several of the cast did it after Ekins made the jump, according to John Leyton. That included himself and Charles Bronson. The fence had been taken down. But the point is, McQueen said some things that weren't so, and this is one of them, but he absolutely could have done it if he'd been allowed. I think he said it was him because he was embarrassed. I can't help but wonder if this frustration is buried somewhere in the circumstances behind his handling of 'Le Mans".

[@ClareBLeung]

Yea sure steve.

[@josemanueldamasio89]

Yeah...

[@IloveTS13haha]

So who was the one who jumped ekins or mcqueen?

[@Transgarp]

Before & after McQueen, during the jump it's Ekins

[@IloveTS13haha]

@@Transgarp so technically it's ekins.

[@pauliebots]

@@IloveTS13haha Ekins made the jump...period. Could Steve have made the same jump...? Yup. If he got hurt it would mess up the shoot.

[@trudimcpherson55]

Steve did do the jump the morning of filming Neile said

[@barryotoole6990]

Great chase i remember as a kid watching it and after Steve got caught in the fence. Thinking why didnt he just wheelie through it, but this was reality. Steve was super on the bike watching him jumping up and down on the pegs so the rear wheel gets grip on the grass in his scenes..

[@tigertrophy1805]

Steve McQueen 247.