Did They Make it?
Added 7/7/2009
Just picked this up, I usually catch this every several years on TV, but finally had to buy it. On a side note, this shows why blu-ray is having a hard time catching on. I just got a 65 inch tv, and even this, sub-par quality picture "regular" DVD is totally passable (especially for the $6.99 I paid for it!). Anyways, my personal connection to this goes back to 1978 when my family took a vacation to San Fran and we toured Alcatraz. They were refurbishing sections of the prison for the upcoming film starring Clint Eastwood. Even though I was a lad, I was already a huge fan of Clint! When the film came out, we went and saw it in the theater, I was fascinated. Final note, look up this subject on the net, there was just a posting about a manuscript that came from Seattle and the owner gave it to the authorities to look into. This story says that the three men did make it, and then were murdered for money and buried off I-90 somewhere in Washington. Maybe? who knows? Also, the Mythbusters episode dealing with this was good as well. A good story, but remember, Crime dosen't pay! cheers.
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"One of Clint Eastwood's Best!
Added 6/3/2009
My two favorite Clint Eastwood movies are "Play Misty For Me" and "Escape From Alcatraz". This DVD is pretty much a bare-bones release, but the film comes in widescreen format and there are chapter selections. Hopefully Paramount will release a special edition disc soon with anecdotes and info on the film.
Although the movie was released way back in 1979 the film still holds up today. It's mainly about a prisoner, played superbly by Eastwood, who attempts to escape prison with two other inmates. The movie documents their attempts in leaving one of the most well-secured prisons in the U.S., Alcatraz, located in San Francisco Bay. Roberts Blossom, who once played one of the most evil characters in soaps (Sven in "Another World"), also has a supporting role as a prisoner who befriends the Eastwood character.
If you like a good film or a good prison movie "Escape From Alcatraz" is it! Other well-made prison dramas include "Midnight Express", "The Shawshank Redemption", and "The Green Mile".
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Film is good, but the books are better
Added 6/1/2009
Apparently most of the reviewers have only seen the movie. If you're familiar with the books on the subject: "Escape from Alcatraz" by John Campbell Bruce, and "Breaking the Rock" by Jolene Babyak, who actually lived there, you'll find that the real story is way more intriguing than the film could ever be. So much of the film tries to unnecessarily sensationalize events or characters, like the the black inmate English, and his relationship to Morris never existed, nor could it have in 1960-62 prison life. One of the reasons these guys wound up in Alcatraz was because of their extreme racial animosity. The efforts of the (four) prisoners to get out was more intense, involved, time consuming, and dangerous than the film makes out.
Do yourself a favor and hit a library near you for the "real meat".
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Pretty Darn Good Prison Flick
Added 6/1/2009
Prison movies have a tendency to dissolve into contrived stereotypes, so watching ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ is soothing relief. Outside of the typical sadistic warden (yet Patrick McGoohan makes a most interesting and believable villain), this film concentrates more on the logistics of breaking out of "The Rock"--the formidable federal prison Alcatraz, isolated on its own island in the icy waters of San Francisco Bay. Based on a true story, Clint Eastwood plays calm, level-headed Frank Morris, a prisoner on a mission to be the first to escape.
While conditions inside the prison are stark, brutal, and harsh (yet name me one maximum security prison where they're not), this movie doesn't reach its stride until Morris makes up his mind to escape, comes up with an ingenious plan, then patiently implements it. Assisted primarily by two brothers (look for a young Fred Ward), the machinations as the prisoners chisel away at their air vents, smuggle tools into their cells, utilize plaster of paris (as well as making it in their tiny sinks), are fascinating viewing. There are setbacks to be sure, along with plenty of almost-getting-discovered suspense, but as ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ concludes you'll be cheering the escapees on.
--D. Mikels, Author, The Reckoning
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Great Clint Flick
Added 5/11/2009
Clint plays it cool in this movie and having been to Alcatraz a few times, it really hits home as to how these guys could have escaped the Rock.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Did They Make it?
Added 7/7/2009
Just picked this up, I usually catch this every several years on TV, but finally had to buy it. On a side note, this shows why blu-ray is having a hard time catching on. I just got a 65 inch tv, and even this, sub-par quality picture "regular" DVD is totally passable (especially for the $6.99 I paid for it!). Anyways, my personal connection to this goes back to 1978 when my family took a vacation to San Fran and we toured Alcatraz. They were refurbishing sections of the prison for the upcoming film starring Clint Eastwood. Even though I was a lad, I was already a huge fan of Clint! When the film came out, we went and saw it in the theater, I was fascinated. Final note, look up this subject on the net, there was just a posting about a manuscript that came from Seattle and the owner gave it to the authorities to look into. This story says that the three men did make it, and then were murdered for money and buried off I-90 somewhere in Washington. Maybe? who knows? Also, the Mythbusters episode dealing with this was good as well. A good story, but remember, Crime dosen't pay! cheers.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
"One of Clint Eastwood's Best!
Added 6/3/2009
My two favorite Clint Eastwood movies are "Play Misty For Me" and "Escape From Alcatraz". This DVD is pretty much a bare-bones release, but the film comes in widescreen format and there are chapter selections. Hopefully Paramount will release a special edition disc soon with anecdotes and info on the film.
Although the movie was released way back in 1979 the film still holds up today. It's mainly about a prisoner, played superbly by Eastwood, who attempts to escape prison with two other inmates. The movie documents their attempts in leaving one of the most well-secured prisons in the U.S., Alcatraz, located in San Francisco Bay. Roberts Blossom, who once played one of the most evil characters in soaps (Sven in "Another World"), also has a supporting role as a prisoner who befriends the Eastwood character.
If you like a good film or a good prison movie "Escape From Alcatraz" is it! Other well-made prison dramas include "Midnight Express", "The Shawshank Redemption", and "The Green Mile".
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Film is good, but the books are better
Added 6/1/2009
Apparently most of the reviewers have only seen the movie. If you're familiar with the books on the subject: "Escape from Alcatraz" by John Campbell Bruce, and "Breaking the Rock" by Jolene Babyak, who actually lived there, you'll find that the real story is way more intriguing than the film could ever be. So much of the film tries to unnecessarily sensationalize events or characters, like the the black inmate English, and his relationship to Morris never existed, nor could it have in 1960-62 prison life. One of the reasons these guys wound up in Alcatraz was because of their extreme racial animosity. The efforts of the (four) prisoners to get out was more intense, involved, time consuming, and dangerous than the film makes out.
Do yourself a favor and hit a library near you for the "real meat".
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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