Favorite Prison Escape Films

[Chopper]

In the 70's the prison escape film was a huge genre.  It was a genre that appealed to audiences of all cultures and backgrounds, it's subtext was always the same: men fighting for freedom. They showed people, who in spite of the "justice" system, are done wrong by it and had to do everything in their power to fight the system and regain their freedom.

My two favorite prison escape films are Papillon and Escape 2000, one very serious and touching film with Steve McQueen, and one real fun, cheesy film.

What are all of your fav's in this genre.

More info on the films mentioned:


http://imdb.com/title/tt0070511/
http://imdb.com/title/tt0082338/

[BeyondTheGrave]

its not a film but the show the "Prison" was real good. "iam not number iam a man"!

"I know I know ive been exposed permeant psychoses..
at least the colors are nice"- Aeon Flux


my fault name of that show was the "prisoner"



Post Edited (06-19-04 23:44)

[Eirik]

The Great Escape (I know - not that kind of Prison), and Escape From NY are two fun ones.

[Susan]

I also like papillion, tho it gets a little long toward the end.

Shawshank is up there...mostly because of the clever twist.
But I love Silence of the Lambs...tho not quite the type where you're rooting for the rebellion and freedom of the escapee...



Post Edited (06-19-04 22:43)

[Fearless Freep]

OK, being a Bad Movie site, my first thought was StarSlammer, probably the closest thing I've ever seen to a 'chicks in chains' movie.

Something is wrong here when 'prison movies' is mentioned and people actually talk about good movies

[Ash]

My favorite is "The Count of Monte Cristo" when Edmond Dantes escapes from Chateau D'If.

That place was the worst s**thole ever compared to modern prisons.



Post Edited (06-20-04 00:33)

[The Burgomaster]

In no particular order:

* Papillon
* Cool Hand Luke
* Escape from Alcatraz
* The Great Escape
* The Shawshank Redemption
* Runaway Train
* The Night Visitor
* Stalag 17 (although, it is more of a prison camp movie than an escape movie)
* Fortress

[Susan]

Does anyone remember a prison film where randy quaid was in it as a costar? I remember seeing this movie awhile back about drug smuggling and a guy being held in some nasty prison in Turkey. I believe he escaped....



Post Edited (06-20-04 08:51)

[Chopper]

Oh! I believe that's Midnight Express, Oliver Stone wrote the screenplay I'm pretty sure, but that was a great film.



Post Edited (06-20-04 10:21)

[Chopper]

"Something is wrong here when 'prison movies' is mentioned and people actually talk about good movies."

hehe, I had to balance my post out with a little cheese :) (Escape 2000 aka TURKEY SHOOT!)

[BoyScoutKevin]

I don't watch that many prision pictures. It is not one of my favorite generas,but one that I have seen and has not already been mentioned is "Big House, USA" from 1955. W/ the prisoners being played by Broderick Crawford, Ralph Meeker, William Talman, Charles Bronson, and Lon Chaney, Jr.

Interesting enough, at least to me, is that while all these were playing people on the wrong side of the law, they would all play people on the right side of the law, sometime in their career as actors.  Broderick Crawford in "Highway Patrol." Ralph Meeker in "Brannigan." William Talman in "Perry Mason." Charles Bronson in "Breakheart Pass." And Lon Chaney, Jr. in "High Noon."

And, at least, when I first saw it, I thought the crime that Ralph Meeker committed to get sent to prision was particularly horrendous.

[maria paula]

Neither it is my favorite genre but i remeber a film i did enjoy quite much watching it  a long time ago, though i avoid watching every movie with "sly stallone" in it, he was in there " victory" 1981.

[Ash]

Yeah I remember "Victory".

I haven't seen that film in at least 10 years.
That's the one with the soccer match right?
Gonna have to go out and rent it.

I remember it being a pretty decent flick.



Post Edited (06-20-04 15:43)

[Susan]

on the comedic side...raising arizona

[maria paula]

yes,  u are right, and wastn that bad,quite entertaining,  though Sly  stalloneits in there.