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IMDbPro

Escape from Alcatraz

  • 19791979
  • PGPG
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
132K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,183
1,313
Clint Eastwood in Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
Watch ’Official Trailer’
Play trailer2:00
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Biography
  • Crime
Alcatraz is the most secure prison of its time. It is believed that no one can ever escape from it, until three daring men make a possibly successful attempt at escaping from one of the most... Read allAlcatraz is the most secure prison of its time. It is believed that no one can ever escape from it, until three daring men make a possibly successful attempt at escaping from one of the most infamous prisons in the world.Alcatraz is the most secure prison of its time. It is believed that no one can ever escape from it, until three daring men make a possibly successful attempt at escaping from one of the most infamous prisons in the world.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
132K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,183
1,313
  • Director
    • Don Siegel
  • Writers
    • J. Campbell Bruce(book)
    • Richard Tuggle(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Clint Eastwood
    • Patrick McGoohan
    • Roberts Blossom
Top credits
  • Director
    • Don Siegel
  • Writers
    • J. Campbell Bruce(book)
    • Richard Tuggle(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Clint Eastwood
    • Patrick McGoohan
    • Roberts Blossom
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 211User reviews
    • 79Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:00
    Official Trailer
    Sneak Previews Season 2 Episode 2
    Video 29:01
    Sneak Previews Season 2 Episode 2

    Photos117

    Clint Eastwood, Roberts Blossom, and Bruce M. Fischer in Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
    Clint Eastwood and Jack Thibeau in Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
    Clint Eastwood and Paul Benjamin in Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
    Clint Eastwood and Larry Hankin in Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
    Clint Eastwood in Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
    Clint Eastwood in Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
    Clint Eastwood and Madison Arnold in Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
    Clint Eastwood and Larry Hankin in Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
    Clint Eastwood in Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
    Clint Eastwood in Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
    "Escape from Alcatraz" Clint Eastwood 1979 Paramount © 1979 Ron Grover
    "Escape from Alcatraz" Clint Eastwood 1979 Paramount © 1979 Ron Grover

    Top cast

    Edit
    Clint Eastwood
    Clint Eastwood
    • Frank Morris
    Patrick McGoohan
    Patrick McGoohan
    • Warden Arthur Dollison
    Roberts Blossom
    Roberts Blossom
    • Chester 'Doc' Dalton
    Jack Thibeau
    Jack Thibeau
    • Clarence Anglin
    Fred Ward
    Fred Ward
    • John Anglin
    Paul Benjamin
    Paul Benjamin
    • English
    Larry Hankin
    Larry Hankin
    • Charley Butts
    Bruce M. Fischer
    Bruce M. Fischer
    • Wolf
    Frank Ronzio
    Frank Ronzio
    • Litmus
    Fred Stuthman
    Fred Stuthman
    • Johnson
    David Cryer
    • Wagner
    Madison Arnold
    Madison Arnold
    • Zimmerman
    Blair Burrows
    • Fight Guard
    Bob Balhatchet
    • Medical Technical Assistant
    Matthew Locricchio
    • Exam Guard
    • (as Matthew J. Locricchio)
    Don Michaelian
    • Beck
    Ray K. Goman
    Ray K. Goman
    • Cellblock Captain
    Jason Ronard
    Jason Ronard
    • Bobs
    • Director
      • Don Siegel
    • Writers
      • J. Campbell Bruce(book)
      • Richard Tuggle(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Out of Alcatraz

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During filming, tourists were still allowed onto the island, and a new boatload would arrive every half-hour. They became so much of a distraction that the majority of filming was moved to night shoots.
    • Goofs
      Morris and the Anglins are shown blowing up their raft with their mouths. In reality they had turned a small concertina into a makeshift bellows, which they used to inflate the raft.
    • Quotes

      Frank Morris: There's always the possibility that some asshole will be offended. Isn't there?

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits prologue: JANUARY 18, 1960 SAN FRANCISCO
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Rocky II/The In-Laws/Lost and Found/Escape from Alcatraz/The Main Event (1979)
    • Soundtracks
      D Block Blues
      by Gilbert Thomas Jr.

    User reviews211

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Escape impossible?
    Frank Morris was a bank robber who has escape many prisons in his time, but for his troubles his transported from Atlanta and shipped off to the rock they call Alcatraz. Where supposedly no one can escape. The maximum security prison life is jarringly miserable and hopeless. The prison warden intends to keep it that way. Morris makes some friends, but also an enemy which wants to see him dead, after turning down his proposal with brute force. Through a small glimpse of hope and luck. Morris actually discovers a possible way of escape and carefully plans it out with the aid of a couple of inmates.

    You can always count on the influential pairing of Clint Eastwood and Don Siegel. No matter what. On their filth and final partnership they come up with another genuine winner in the shape of the grippingly harrowing and sedated prison yarn shaped off J. Campbell Bruce's novel (and the supposed true story) of the only three men to break out of Alcatraz. It's hard not marvel at Siegel's sturdily compact craftsmanship in depicting the dour prison life with moody realism and how the story eventually folds out into a tautly drawn up break out attempt. The build up doesn't sway off course, but sticks to its simple narrative and characteristics with effective results. There's nothing explosive and downright exciting, but there's spirit lurking under the cold looking domain that eventually comes through. Like quoted in the film the rock would either break you or inspire you to fight on. The smartly layered plot works this into the characters very successfully and despite the predictability, it stays admirably honest without the need of sensationalising the facts and ambiguous conclusion. It starts of small and stays that way to the end, even with its dominantly large situation. The well-articulated script by Richard Tuggle is scanty with a lot of quiet patches. But it when comes to the forefront it manages to be cunning, but also touching. There's nothing overwrought here and gladly it doesn't succumb to that. Pacing is quite subdued, but this helps enhances the creaky mood and sophomoric nature of Alcatraz. Drama and action is kept to a minimal. Being shot on Alcatraz help chipped out such a towering and gritty presence the film held strongly and Bruce Surtees' fixedly expressive cinematography gets amongst the shadowy, dank and gloomy interior. Jerry Fielding's poignantly lingering and uncanny music score only adds more to the nauseating air whiffed up through the presentation. Clint Eastwood plays it quite steely and lean. He fit's the role smoothly as Morris. The support roles are reliably good, even if they are stuck with generic characters. Patrick McGoohan is sinisterly fine as the warden and Robert Blossom and Frank Ronzio are delightfully moving as two elder prison inmates. Paul Benjamin, Bruce M. Fischer, Fred Ward and Larry Hankin as the edgily weak-minded Charley Butts are memorably excellent in their parts.

    We've been down this path before, but this efficient offering plays it cards in a very understated manner and is to the point that I found it hard not to be fascinated by it's bitter depiction. Take the chance with this fortress.
    helpful•9
    0
    • lost-in-limbo
    • Mar 6, 2007

    FAQ1

    • Could they have survived?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 22, 1979 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Bijeg iz Alcatraza
    • Filming locations
      • Alcatraz Prison, Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Pictures
      • The Malpaso Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $43,000,000
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,306,354
      • Jun 24, 1979
    • Gross worldwide
      • $43,005,351
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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