Escape from Alcatraz poster & wallpaper

Bruce M. Fischer, Clint Eastwood, Danny Glover

Based on the true story of a hardened convict who engineered an elaborate plan to bust out of the famed prison in 1962.

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78% liked it

55,407 ratings

Critics

94% liked it

16 critics

PG, 1 hr. 52 min.

Directed by: Don Siegel

Release Date: June 22, 1979

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DVD Release Date: March 9, 1999

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Stats: 1,610 reviews

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ITS ALCATRAZ!!!!! Escape from Alcatraz
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Flixster Reviews (1,610)

  • SirPant
    September 30, 2009
    SirPant
    Good but not great. Don Siegel and Clint Eastwood have done better, this is an all round good film but nothing more.
  • 76Majikat
    August 17, 2008
    76Majikat
    A little slow moving and not quite in the league of ?The Great Escape?, but clever all the same. Leaves you wondering what happened next, but I guess we?ll never know.
  • DrZeek
    June 3, 2008
    DrZeek
    John Anglin: Hey, how's it going, Frank?
    Frank Morris: Well, the Anglins. What are you guys doing, just dropping by?
    Clarence Anglin: Yeah, thought we'd pay you a visit.
    Frank Morris: Gonna stay long?
    John Anglin: Nah, not long. Only about fifteen or twenty years.
    Frank Morris: W...( read more)hy the Rock?
    Clarence Anglin: We were going over the wall in Atlanta when we encountered a minor problem.
    Frank Morris: Such as?
    Clarence Anglin: They saw us.
    Frank Morris: Yeah, that do present problems.

    A very entertaining prison thriller based on true events, starring Clint Eastwood in complete cool mode.

    Eastwood stars as Frank Morris, a new inmate to Alcatraz prison. Upon arriving, he meets the warden, played by Patrick McGoohan (a few points for anyone who can see the joke their), and is told basically that his life no longer means anything and he should get used to having his life suck.

    As Morris begins his time he meets a few characters. Some are good, such as English, a black librarian, Doc a painter, and Litmus, a man with a pet rat. One is bad, a big guy who wants fresh meat.

    After dealing with some of the issues of prison life, Morris teams up with a few other inmates and they work on a complicated and daring escape plan. From their, the story portrays the various elements that make up the plan and the eventual outcome.

    The two best things about this movie involve how cool Eastwood is and the fact that this movie moves along very well.

    Eastwood not only delivers every line in the coolest way possible, he is basically liked by everyone. Everyone enjoys his no nonsense style and dry humor.

    The movie, which was directed by Don Siegel, helmer of other Eastwood flicks, such as Dirty Harry, treats this movie as a well paced thriller, while managing to inject some feelings into the portrayal of prison life.

    Of course, their are a number of elements that give this a guy movie quality, keeping it back from being greater. The focus on story leaves little in way of characters. Two of the escapees are literally placed into the film without giving us any sense of who they are, however, it does help that one of them is played by Fred Ward. The basic meanness of the Warden is also just that - mean.

    However, the fact that the events depicted are for the most part true, excluding facts obviously put in for dramatic effect, makes this even more enjoyable.

    The film as a whole is very enjoyable, emphasis being on Eastwood's cool.

    Warden: Morris, I understand there was an accident in the workshop the other day?
    Frank Morris: Accident? Oh you mean Doc. Yeah it seems someone didn't like what he was painting so someone wouldn't let him paint anymore.
    Warden: Well someone should have warned Doc to be careful about what he painted.
    Frank Morris: Your absolutely right sir, there's always the possibility some asshole would be offended. Isn't there?
  • StaisilD
    April 11, 2008
    StaisilD
    Escape From Alcatraz, a very authentic-looking prison drama based on the true story of the only successful escape from the notorious island-prison off San Francisco. In reality, no-one can be sure that Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers DID actually get away.... there is a very...( read more) real possibility that they drowned or suffered hypothermia while trying to swim to safety. But the bodies of Morris and his cronies were never recovered, so neither can anyone categorically state that they perished. As a result of this legendary escape, Alcatraz lost its reputation as an inescapable penitentiary and was closed down just over a year later. Convicted bank robber Frank Morris (Clint Eastwood) is moved to Alcatraz after repeatedly attempting to escape from his previous jail. Here he finds himself at the mercy of a ruthless and power-hungry warden (Patrick McGoohan) whose attitude toward the prisoners is one of utter contempt. Frank also finds his new fellow inmates to be alternately hostile or hopeless. While some inmates spend their time bullying and intimidating, others wallow in despair as endless months pass them by. Among the desperate ones, Frank meets "Doc" Dalton (Roberts Blossom), a convict with a talent for painting who chops off his own fingers when the warden refuses to let him paint. Also, Frank meets the Anglin brothers - Clarence (Jack Thibeau) and John (Fred Ward) - another pair with a reputation for attempting to escape from the jails they have been in. Frank and the Anglins put into action an audacious new escape plan. Using stolen spoons they dig their way to a ventilation shaft; using mirrors they watch the corridors outside their cells for approaching guards; using makeshift mortar they hide their digging work; and using papier-mache they make lifelike heads which they place on their pillows to make it look like they are sleeping peacefully. Siegel's direction shows good control and it is matched by a performance from Clint Eastwood that is so understated that at times it seemed like he would disappear from the screen with a slight whiff of smoke ? this was not a showy performance but it was a very good one. He is supported by a cast that delivers mostly clichéd characters but delivers them without overdoing it or pushing it to the point where they are too obvious. The support cast includes turns from Blossum, Benjamin, Fischer, Hankin and Fred Ward. The real magic of the film is the build up to the escape. No character is left untapped, we feel like we are a part of this prison, their every day lives, their pain, their emotions and finally we get to experience their glorious and seemingly flawless escape plan. It's an emotional film and has stood the test of time as a classic for a reason.
  • Godless
    October 2, 2007
    Godless
    A pretty good retelling of the actual escape. Straight forward with some solid acting.
  • mchilang
    September 24, 2009
    mchilang
    seems interesting...
  • brelyad66
    September 20, 2009
    brelyad66
    i wanna see that movie!
  • SirGenius
    September 2, 2009
    SirGenius
    Just skilled all out skilled.
  • samanthaseaotter
    August 4, 2009
    samanthaseaotter
    Good, not great, adventure movie.
  • elviraalejandro
    July 18, 2009
    elviraalejandro
    Suspense full prison break movie.
    Shall not miss it.

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Comments

  • AEIOU123456
    September 15, 2007
    AEIOU123456
    to the dude below this post:

    hehe whats having brains got to do with watching this flick? :P
  • britty4691
    August 29, 2006
    britty4691
    omg people! are you telling me that no one has seen this movie! come on people, where are you brains!?
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Escape from Alcatraz Trivia

  • Who starred in the movie Escape from alcatraz?  Answer »
  • what 1979 movie has this quote: Some times I think this place is a huge count. The prisoners count the hours. The bulls count the prisonersand the king bulls count the counts?  Answer »
  • Which drama movie did Clint Eastwoodstar in?  Answer »
  • Are the movies Escape from L.A., Escape from New York and Escape from Alcatraz a trillogy?  Answer »
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