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The Defiant Ones (1958)

7.7
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Ratings: 7.7/10 from 6,508 users  
Reviews: 60 user | 27 critic

Two escaped convicts chained together, white and black, must learn to get along in order to elude capture.

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Title: The Defiant Ones (1958)

The Defiant Ones (1958) on IMDb 7.7/10

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Won 2 Oscars. Another 14 wins & 19 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
...
...
...
Capt. Frank Gibbons
...
Big Sam (as Lon Chaney)
King Donovan ...
Solly
...
Mack
Lawrence Dobkin ...
Editor
...
Lou Gans
...
Angus (as Carl Switzer)
Kevin Coughlin ...
Cara Williams ...
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Storyline

Joker Jackson and Noah Cullen are two convicts on a chain gang who hate each other. After a truck prison accident, they flee and are pursued by the police. While they're chained, the two are dependent on one another. When they eventually get rid of their chains, their hostility has been changed into fellowship and respect. Written by Tony Kessen <rhkessen@cs.vu.nl>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

They couldn't like each other less. They couldn't need each other more. See more »

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

27 September 1958 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Flucht in Ketten  »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (Turner library print) (copyright length)

Sound Mix:

(Westrex Recording System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Tony Curtis insisted that Sidney Poitier received top billing. See more »

Goofs

When jumping into the mud pit, Tony Curtis' stunt double has a noticeable bald spot. See more »

Quotes

John 'Joker' Jackson: Cullen, I can't make it.
Noah Cullen: [Holding out his arm as if they are still chained together] Come on, man, you draggin' the chain.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in That Girl: The Defiant One (1969) See more »

Soundtracks

"Long Gone"
Adapted from "Long Gone (From Bowlin' Green)" (1920)
Music by W.C. Handy (as William C. Handy)
Words by Chris Smith
Sung a cappella by Sidney Poitier (uncredited) several times
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Two chained convicts tried to escape
15 August 2002 | by (Italy) – See all my reviews

I have seen this film several times and each time I am feeling that this is one of the best drama I've ever seen. There are new remakes of this film, but the original is the best. Acting of Sidney Poitier is without any doubt superb, while Tony Curtis did also his best. The director, Stanley Kramer, chose a very good and interesting plot, how two different persons can have better relationship and interests when they fight together for their lives. No matter if one is black and the other white, or no matter if one is atheist and the other Christian, at the end they will understand each other because their cause is only one and is the same, to become free.


18 of 21 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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