112 mins - United States 1979 - Dir: Don Siegel Starring: Clint Eastwood, Patrick McGoohan and Fred Ward The fifth and final film made by director Don Siegel and actor Clint Eastwood is also one of their very best. It is the fascinating account of the only three men ever to escape from the infamous maximum security prison at Alcatraz. Eastwood portrays the cunning bank robber who masterminded the elaborately detailed and, as far as anyone knows, ultimately successful escape. This taut and suspenseful reenactment of a true story was filmed on location in Alcatraz, giving the picture a gritty authenticity.“ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ is relentless in establishing a mood and pace of unrelieved tension.” Variety
Triskel Arts Centre is proud to present this special season dedicated to the films made by director Don Siegel and actor Clint Eastwood. When they first met, Siegel was known for his unpretentious yet taut and punchy style, illustrated in nifty B-movies such as RIOT IN CELL BLACK 11 (1954), INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1956) and BABY FACE NELSON (1957). Eastwood was just coming off the success of the Segio Leone ‘spaghetti westerns’ A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS (1964), FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE (1965) and THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY (1966). Beginning with COOGAN’S BLUFF in 1968 and ending with ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ in 1979, they collaborated on five pictures in total, ranging from urban crime thrillers, westerns, prison dramas and gothic horror. All of these films will be screened as part of this season, screening every Thursday during the month of February.
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