Published: February 15, 2008 12:56 pm            

Mr. Movie: Films based around Alcatraz

Today it is only a tourist attraction. But Alcatraz is still probably the most famous prison in the world. It is located on an island some one and half cold, swirling miles from San Francisco. There was only one "successful" escape in its history. The escapees were never seen again and are presumed drowned. Hollywood used Alcatraz's appeal to crank out lots of movies about it, including some really good ones.

Escape from Alcatraz (1979) features Clint Eastwood as the ring leader of the only escape ever made from the legendary San Francisco prison. The taciturn Eastwood is perfect for this role, and the planning and execution of the incredibly difficult escape make quite a good story.

The intriguing Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) features Burt Lancaster in a signature role as a lifer who puts his time to good use by learning enough about birds from reading and observation to become a world-renown expert in the field. Director John Frankenheimer's ability to hold our interest in a film with basically one set and one character is remarkable.

In Point Blank (1967) Alcatraz is the setting for Lee Marvin being left for dead by his faithless wife and her mobster boyfriend. The movie is really about his revenge and is a real thriller.

Kevin Bacon is a 19-year-old kid who stole five dollars to feed his sister and winds up among the killers, rapists and bombers on Alcatraz in the riveting Murder In The First (1995). He is charged with murdering another inmate, and his ordeal puts the entire prison system on trial. Christian Slater is excellent as his lawyer. Assorted bad guys include Gary Oldman, Brad Dourif and R. Lee Ermey.

The Rock (1996) has a strong cast including Sean Connery, Nicholas Cage and Ed Harris. The screenplay is a bit of a stretch, though: a crazy general seizes Alcatraz and threatens to blow up San Francisco. Cage is a biologist; Connery a career criminal and these two lead a foray onto the island to save the day. Will they? Hey, this is Hollywood!

All of the movies in this column are available on video and DVD. All are for 12 and up.



Rusty Hammond has been writing the Mr. Movie column since 1996. It appears in several newspapers in North Carolina.

        

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