ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ
US, 1979, 111 minutes, Colour.
Clint Eastwood, Patrick Mc Goohan, Roberts Blossom, Jack Thibeau, Fred Ward.
Directed by Donald Siegel.
Donald Siegel - Clint Eastwood prison escape drama is a generally plain, effective drama and avoids sensationalism. Based on a true story of the '60s and actually filmed at Alcatraz itself, it has an authentic atmosphere and makes the audience think of the other side of justice: the just treatment of prisoners and honest administration. The film has its share of victimised characters and critique of harsh authoritarian abuses (embodied in warden Patrick Mc Goohan). The escape, preparations and achievement, is shown in persuasive detail but low-key tone. Excellent use is made of location photography and the supporting cast of prisoners adds to the quality of the film.
1. An interesting and enjoyable prison film? The American tradition of prison films the American system, criminals, justice? The focus on people within this society, a closed and enclosed life, clashes, warders and administration, the need for escape? How well did this film fit within this tradition?
2. The reputation of Alcatraz - its situation in San Francisco Bay, its use for difficult criminals, its notoriety, its record for escape attempts, the physical difficulties of escaping, psychological pressures?
3. The film as a Clint Eastwood vehicle - personality, presence? His strength in the central character? Audience sympathy and interest? Taking sides, attitudes towards criminals, authorities?
4. The direct tone of the screenplay - focusing on Alcatraz itself, the focus on Frank Morris and his companions, the cumulative effect of life within the prison, audience involvement with Morris and the escape attempt? Sympathy for the victim of injustice? The low-key tone of the film?
5. The introduction of Alcatraz, San Francisco, the Bay? The nature of the island, the explanation of the currents and the temperatures? The audience knowledge of the various centres in Alcatraz, both interiors and exteriors? How well did the audience feel that they had experienced Alcatraz? Entry with Frank Morris, the routine of the prisoner coming in, the interrogations, the warnings, the humiliation of walking naked down the corridor? The lack of privacy, the lack of privileges? The meriting of such imprisonment because of difficulties in the record of the prisoner?
6. The presentation of the warden - icy control, sinister smile, his supervisory role? The discussion with Morris and explanation of his approach? The hard line? His accountability to authorities? The tour of the cells, the discovery of his portrait painted by Doc, the withdrawing of Doc's privileges and the repercussions? The clashes with Frank Morris? His decision to change cells? His involvement in the search for the escapees, his finally being thwarted, his determination that they had drowned? His sense of humiliation?
7. Themes of justice, the harsh warders, the carrying out of orders, the sympathetic warders and their being bound into the system? Supervision of Doc, of putting people into solitary, the supervision of meals etc.?
8. Clint Eastwood's interpretation of Frank Morris? What kind of person was he in himself, his arrival, reputation, past experience? The encounter with Wolf in the refectory and the scene with the spaghetti? His clashing with him in the shower? His self-assertion? The later fight and the protection from the negroes? His experience of solitary? (How did they present the impact of solitary, how effectively?) His associations from the former prison, the friendship with Doc and appreciation of his work, the friendship with Litmus and giving him his desserts and getting various implements from him? The friendship with the black librarian, the various negroes in the yard? The racist remarks to each other? Morris and his work, in the library, his reading? His presence and his relationship to the various prisoners?
9. The desperate need to escape - the search for ideas, the possibilities? Escape as a goal? The elaboration of the plans and their build-up? The scraping away of the plaster, the painted wall, the getting of the spoon, the making of the dummies, ,the exploring of the interior? The suspense with the passing of time? The music lessons and practice? The building of the raft? The group daring and defying authority and the reputation of Alcatraz?
10. The escape as based on fact? The low-key and authentic presentation? The actual escape, Charley Butts and his reluctance to go, the brothers and Morris going, the difficulties of climbing, getting onto the roof, over the roof and down, the escape on the raft?
11. The aftermath with the search, the warden and his wanting to cover up the possibility of escape?
12. How well did the film present incidents in the life of Alcatraz - the walks in the yard, the various clashes and bashings, wolf and the knife, the negroes and their place and allowing Morris with them, the library sequences, 1Wals, the workshop, the music evenings, the movies?
13. The gallery of characters and their vivid portrayal, audience interest in them and their place in the prison? The brothers and their collaboration with the plan, their skill in getting the implements ready? Charley Butts and the story of his taking cars, being victimised by the police, his friendship with Morris, his reluctance to go, his finally attempting too late and staying? Litmus and the humour of his bargains with the desserts, his scrounging things around the prison, his final clash with the police and his collapse and death - and the reaction of the warden? Doc and his skill in painting, as an outlet, creativity, the painting of the warden, the warden's taking away of privileges, the build-up to his chopping off his fingers and Morris' reaction? Wolf and his brutality? The negro librarian and his injuring himself?
14. The world of social outcasts. the enclosed world with its laws. customs. interaction?
15. The necessity of prisons. the justice of imprisonment, the need for just administration?
