Cast: Clint Eastwood (Frank Morris), Jack Thibeau (Clarence Anglin), Fred Ward (John Anglin), Patrick McGoohan (Warden), Roberts Blossom (Doc), Paul Benjamin (English), Frank Ronzio (Litmus)
Director: Don Siegel
Genre: Drama/ Historical
What can one expect from a film about some convicts in a maximum security prison who are planning an escape? This movie is entertaining and rather interesting in its portrayal about the famous escape from the Rock which took place during Alcatraz’s feared days.
I found the movie a little slow but not so much as to put me to sleep for an hour. It still maintained a good quality of keeping the audience in anticipation. I found the dialogue rather slow but then again, what do prisoners have to talk about. The entertainment level and the historical aspect are pretty much the only qualities that keep this film going and make it enjoyable. The title pretty much covers the plot of this film. It’s an adaptation of the only assumed successful escape from Alcatraz maximum security prison. When Frank Morris (Clint Eastwood) is transferred to the Rock, considered the most feared prison at its time, he immediately plots an escape and gets some other inmates to escape as well. He and his fellow inmates, the Anglin brothers (Jack Thibeau and Fred Ward) use what few resources they can get access to in order to venture off the Rock, swim the freezing shark infested bay water, and make it to San Francisco. I consider this one of my favorites in that, being of San Francisco blood, I always enjoy a film or story that pertains to a topic regarding the city by the bay. Also, this is an extremely precise dramatization of just how the famous bust from the Rock took place. The shots of the city and the view from Alcatraz are enjoyable to watch. Clint Eastwood was perfect for the role of Frank Morris. He kept the same mind set and convincing act throughout the entire movie. His convincing desire for freedom and refusal to be caged was well done. Despite its good qualities, I don’t consider this movie the best drama I’ve seen. I would categorize it as a “something to pass the time on a rainy Friday night” kind of a movie. It definitely gives the audience a true sense of perseverance despite any obstacle- even freezing ocean water between prison and mainland.
Director: Don Siegel
Genre: Drama/ Historical
What can one expect from a film about some convicts in a maximum security prison who are planning an escape? This movie is entertaining and rather interesting in its portrayal about the famous escape from the Rock which took place during Alcatraz’s feared days.
I found the movie a little slow but not so much as to put me to sleep for an hour. It still maintained a good quality of keeping the audience in anticipation. I found the dialogue rather slow but then again, what do prisoners have to talk about. The entertainment level and the historical aspect are pretty much the only qualities that keep this film going and make it enjoyable. The title pretty much covers the plot of this film. It’s an adaptation of the only assumed successful escape from Alcatraz maximum security prison. When Frank Morris (Clint Eastwood) is transferred to the Rock, considered the most feared prison at its time, he immediately plots an escape and gets some other inmates to escape as well. He and his fellow inmates, the Anglin brothers (Jack Thibeau and Fred Ward) use what few resources they can get access to in order to venture off the Rock, swim the freezing shark infested bay water, and make it to San Francisco. I consider this one of my favorites in that, being of San Francisco blood, I always enjoy a film or story that pertains to a topic regarding the city by the bay. Also, this is an extremely precise dramatization of just how the famous bust from the Rock took place. The shots of the city and the view from Alcatraz are enjoyable to watch. Clint Eastwood was perfect for the role of Frank Morris. He kept the same mind set and convincing act throughout the entire movie. His convincing desire for freedom and refusal to be caged was well done. Despite its good qualities, I don’t consider this movie the best drama I’ve seen. I would categorize it as a “something to pass the time on a rainy Friday night” kind of a movie. It definitely gives the audience a true sense of perseverance despite any obstacle- even freezing ocean water between prison and mainland.
