Review of Escape from Alcatraz (1979) by David L — 27 Nov 2016

Having enjoyed one prison thriller, I decided to watch another and found that it's very easy to confuse the plots as they all have a similar theme - sadistic wardens that are highly egotistical and lack compassion for their inmates (albeit it is a prison full of rapists and murders so you can forgive them on that front), the big bully that constantly threatens to sexually abuse the 'fresh meat', and the plan to escape always materialises into a great success.

In comparison to Shawshank Redemption, this is just an earlier version with poorer effects, slightly poorer dialogue, and even poorer props. I mean if prison officers can't tell a papier-mâché dummy from a real person, I'm sure all prisons would be empty right now - I mean it didn't even look convincing on TV.

The big difference with this film is that the plot to escape is at the centre of it all, whereas Shawshank's is being done in solidarity on the sly. Here we get a day by day run down on how the events unfold as the group of 4 each play their part in the master plan.

Again it's bulked up with sub characters that give it a juicer storyline and a degree of emotion, but yet again we all know just how it's going to end. Somehow, this doesn't necessarily detract from anything as the sense of wanting to witness the arrogant governor get his comeuppance totally takes centre stage when rooting for the inmate heroes.

Despite the old fashioned cinematography, you can't help but enjoy this movie which has paved the way for several other jailbreak films and series of recent times. Nice one Clint!