Yes, studios like anniversary editions, but is it the 50th anniversary restoration? A couple of interesting articles on the Blu-ray and the controversy regarding its quality:
http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Great-Escape-Blu-ray/47102/
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/topic/323483-a-few-words-about%E2%84%A2-the-great-escape-in-blu-ray/
See? All the more reason for me to keep looking for a fullscreen laserdisc-to-DVD conversion! ( laughs )