| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Tony Curtis | ... | John 'Joker' Jackson | |
| Sidney Poitier | ... | Noah Cullen | |
| Theodore Bikel | ... | Sheriff Max Muller | |
| Charles McGraw | ... | Capt. Frank Gibbons | |
| Lon Chaney Jr. | ... | Big Sam (as Lon Chaney) | |
| King Donovan | ... | Solly | |
| Claude Akins | ... | Mack | |
| Lawrence Dobkin | ... | Editor | |
| Whit Bissell | ... | Lou Gans | |
| Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer | ... | Angus (as Carl Switzer) | |
| Kevin Coughlin | ... | Billy | |
| Cara Williams | ... | Billy's Mother | |
When the truck that is transporting convicts has an accident on the road, the inmates John "Joker" Jackson and Noah Cullen that are chained to each other escape. They hate each other but they need to help each other to succeed in their intent of going north to jump in a train and reach freedom. Meanwhile the humane Sheriff Max Muller organizes a posse to track them down in a civilized manner and respecting justice. Joker and Cullen reach a small farm where a lonely woman helps them to get rid of their chains. She offers to drive her car with Joker and her son Billy while Cullen would escape through the swamp to the railroad. But when Joker learns that she sent Cullen to a trap, he leaves her and is shot in the shoulder by Billy. Joker seeks out Cullen to save him and when they meet each other, their former hatred has changed to friendship and respect. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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.