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Escape from Alcatraz

Escape from Alcatraz

Drama · Thriller · 1979

San Francisco Bay, January 18, 1960. Frank Lee Morris is transferred to Alcatraz, a maximum security prison located on a rocky island. Although no one has ever managed to escape from there, Frank and other inmates begin to carefully prepare an escape plan.

Movie details

Escape from Alcatraz

“No one has ever escaped from Alcatraz… and no one ever will!”

1979 Drama · Thriller 1h 53m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.5 / 10

Community rating

San Francisco Bay, January 18, 1960. Frank Lee Morris is transferred to Alcatraz, a maximum security prison located on a rocky island. Although no one has ever managed to escape from there, Frank and other inmates begin to carefully prepare an escape plan.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Escape from Alcatraz?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Don Siegel

Written by

Richard Tuggle

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood

Frank Morris

Patrick McGoohan

Patrick McGoohan

Warden

Roberts Blossom

Roberts Blossom

Doc

Jack Thibeau

Jack Thibeau

Clarence Anglin

Fred Ward

Fred Ward

John Anglin

Paul Benjamin

Paul Benjamin

English

Larry Hankin

Larry Hankin

Charley Butts

Court is in session

Put Escape from Alcatraz on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.