Escape From Alcatraz

Critics Consensus

Escape from Alcatraz makes brilliant use of the tense claustrophobia of its infamous setting -- as well as its leading man's legendarily flinty resolve.

96%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 27

85%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 65,347

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Movie Info

No one can escape from Alcatraz, right? Try telling that to lifer Frank Morris (Clint Eastwood). This Donald Siegel-directed nailbiter is a reenactment of Frank Morris' 1962 attempt to bust himself and two other cons out of The Rock. Eastwood, as Morris, tilts with nasty warden Patrick McGoohan for a while, befriends several fellow prisoners, and picks the guys with whom he'll make his escape. Among his break-out buddies are the Anglin Brothers (Fred Ward and Jack Thibeau), with whom he'd served in other lockups, and several others who've got their own special reasons to despise the sadistic McGoohan. Filmed on location at the newly renovated Alcatraz, Escape From Alcatraz was another box-office winner for the Eastwood/Siegel combo.
  • Rating:
    PG (adult situations/language, violence)
  • Genre:
    Action & Adventure, Classics, Drama, Mystery & Suspense
  • Directed By:
    Don Siegel
  • Written By:
    Richard Tuggle
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Paramount Home Video

Cast

Clint Eastwood
as Frank Morris
Patrick McGoohan
as Warden
Roberts Blossom
as Doc
Jack Thibeau
as Clarence Anglin
Fred Ward
as John Anglin
Paul Benjamin
as English
Larry Hankin
as Charley Butts
Bruce M. Fischer
as Wolf
Frank Ronzio
as Litmus
Fred Stuthman
as Johnson
David Cryer
as Wagner
Madison Arnold
as Zimmerman
Blair Burrows
as Fight Guard
Bob Balhat-Chet
as Medical Assistant
Matthew J. Locricchio
as Exam Guard
Don Michaelian
as Beck
Ray K. Goman
as Cellblock Captain
Jason Ronard
as Bobs
Ed Vasgersian
as Cranston
Ron Vernan
as Stone
Stephen Bradley
as Exam Guard
Garry Goodrow
as Weston
Dan Leegant
as Guard
John Garabedian
as Guard
Denis Berkfeldt
as Guard
Jim Haynie
as Guard
Tony Dario
as Guard
Fritz Manes
as Guard
Dana Derfus
as Guard
Don Cummins
as Guard
Gordon Handforth
as Guard
John Scanlon
as Guard
Don Watters
as Guard
Lloyd Nelson
as Guard
George Orrison
as Guard
Gary F. Warren
as Guard
Joseph Whipp
as Guard
Terry Wills
as Guard
Robert Irvine
as Guard
Joseph Knowland
as Guard
James F. Collier
as Guard
R.J. Ganzert
as Guard
Robert E. Hirschfeld
as Guard
Dale Alvarez
as Inmate
Sheldon Feldner
as Inmate
Danny Glover
as Inmate
Carl Lumbly
as Inmate
Patrick Valentino
as Inmate
Gilbert Thomas Jr.
as Inmate
Eugene W. Jackson
as Inmate
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Critic Reviews for Escape From Alcatraz

All Critics (27) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (26) | Rotten (1)

View All Critic Reviews (27)

Audience Reviews for Escape From Alcatraz

  • Jun 17, 2016
    A tense and smart jail escape movie. One of the best films of this genre.
    Peter B Super Reviewer
  • Sep 20, 2015
    The early portions of the film get a little repetitive, but it's still an entertaining and economical thriller. The ending knocks it out of the park.
    Alec B Super Reviewer
  • Mar 28, 2015
    I know that this movie is very well-liked, and normally I love Clint Eastwood films, but I found this movie to be really boring. Nothing really happens the whole time, and for a prison break movie, there weren't a lot of times where I was in genuine suspense. It seemed like the writers wanted to make a lot of these characters memorable, but none of them are, which is a serious problem for me, since most prison break-themed films or tv shows usually have very likable, very memorable characters. You're supposed to be wanting to root for them to break out. Look at Shawshank or Prison Break, for instance--even the minor characters are memorable. Here, I didn't care about anybody, so that's another epic fail for this film. On a positive note, this does have some Eastwood value, as he's classic here, and the only good part of the film, in my opinion. Aside from that, this just isn't that noteworthy of a movie.
    Stephen S Super Reviewer
  • Jul 10, 2014
    Escape from Alcatraz is hardly original, but it's near-flawlessly orchestrated and brings a certain delight in watching the pieces of its protagonists' plan fall into place.
    Isaac H Super Reviewer
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