Escape from Alcatraz
Directed by Don Segal
Written by Richard Tuggle from a book by J. Campbell Bruce
1979/US
IMDb page
First viewing/Amazon Prime (free to Members)
English: Sometimes I think that’s all this place is. One… long… count. The prisoners count the hours, the bulls count the prisoners and the king bulls count the counts.
For some reason, prison escape movies are usually compelling. This is no exception.
It is 1960. Frank Morris (Clint Eastwood) has been transferred to the federal penitentiary at Alcatraz after several unsuccessful escape attempts. As the “fresh fish”, he is subjected to harassment designed to established who is top dog. In addition, he and the other men must cope with a sadistic warden who is determined to make each prisoner’s time as hard as possible. He gleefully keeps reminding them that there is no escape.
The second part of the film is devoted to the planning for and execution of a potential break-out organized by Frank and a few of the other prisoners. Danny Glover made his screen debut as a prisoner in this film.
Though I can think of several escape movies that I like better, this one was perfectly serviceable and kept me engaged.
