The Defiant Ones (1986) (TV)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

David Lowell Rich

Writers:

James Lee Barrett (writer)
Harold Jacob Smith (story)

Release Date:

5 January 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Carl Monroe and 'Joker' Johnson share some things: They are both in jail and they both hate each other...

Plot Keywords:

Escape | Racial Prejudice | Racial Tension | Escaped Convict | Race Relations

Cast

Robert Urich	...	Johnny 'Joker' Johnson
Carl Weathers	...	Cullen Monroe
Ed Lauter	...	Sheriff Leroy Doyle
Barry Corbin	...	Floyd Carpenter
Laurie O'Brien	...	Pauline
Thalmus Rasulala	...	Fred
William Sanderson	...	Mason
Ritch Brinkley	...	Lonny
Ebbe Roe Smith	...	Deputy Miller
Wil Wheaton	...	Clyde
Charles Bartlett	...	Jeffcoat
Richard Fullerton	...	First Guard
Bob Harris	...	Driver

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

MGM Television

Movie Connections:

Remake of The Defiant Ones (1958)

Stick with the Original

Defiant Ones, The (1986)

** (out of 4)

Carl Weathers and Robert Urich take over the roles originally played by Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis in this made for TV remake. If you've seen the original film then this one really doesn't offer anything new plot wise. There are a few minor changes made to the story but everything is basically the same. I found this to be somewhat better than I expected due to the performance of Weathers but it's in no way, shape or form on the same level as the original, which I feel is one of the greatest films ever made. Weathers gives a very strong performance in his role but Urich is only so-so but the two do have good chemistry together. The supporting cast is decent but they really bring the film down, which wasn't the case for the original, which featured some terrific supporting performances. The music score is also pretty annoying as it goes for a semi-hard rock sound, which really doesn't do the film any justice.