Buzz
We're all familiar with the Prison Break series and have witnessed the Scofield brothers pull off incredibly clever escape maneuvers. In this movie list, let's discuss some of the most convincing prison breaks together!
1. The Great Escape (1963) – The Epic Breakout
The Great Escape, based on true events, follows a group of Allied prisoners attempting a daring escape from a massive Nazi prison camp. Starring some of the most renowned actors of the time such as Steve McQueen, James Garner, Donald Pleasence, the film not only portrays their escape but also aims to divert the attention of Nazi forces, disrupting their focus on the war effort. With breathtaking stunts, a gripping storyline, and stellar performances, this movie is an absolute masterpiece.
2. A Man Escaped (1956) – The Great Escape
Robert Bresson's suspenseful prison escape film will captivate you from start to finish. The movie follows Lieutenant Fontaine, a French Resistance soldier held captive at Montluc fortress. Upon learning of his impending execution, Fontaine focuses his mind on devising an escape plan. However, his plan is interrupted when he's assigned a new cellmate. Reluctantly, Fontaine enlists his new cellmate as an accomplice, imparting complex knowledge essential for the escape.
3. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – Shawshank Prison
Based on a work by Stephen King, The Shawshank Redemption is a beautiful and inspiring story. Andy Dufresne is also a man wrongly convicted. It was thought that Andy would collapse under the weight of his life in prison. However, he meets fellow inmate Red (Morgan Freeman) and regains his will to live. Andy endures the brutality of prison life and eventually adapts to it, until his escape plan succeeds.
4. Papillon (1973) – The Unjustly Imprisoned Man
Papillon, a deeply touching film, inspired by Henri Charrière's memoir, depicts his time imprisoned on Devil's Island in French Guiana. Steve McQueen portrays Charrière (or 'Papillon'), a man wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to life in a brutal prison. Louis Dega (Dustin Hoffman) becomes Papillon's most trusted ally, conspiring to escape together. Despite the harshness of the environment, its brutality, and threats, Papillon remains determined to break free.
5. I Am A Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932) – The Escapist
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang is a very sad film from Hollywood's early years, following a World War I veteran. James Allen (Paul Muni) dreams of a new life after the war, but his dreams are shattered when he's falsely implicated in a robbery and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Brutal prison conditions force James to escape and flee to Chicago. He assumes a new identity, becoming a successful businessman. However, his freedom and happiness are jeopardized when his landlady discovers his secret.
6. Out of Sight (1998) – Beyond Control
Director Stephen Soderbergh helms a sensual, intoxicating yet tumultuous love story. Jack Foley (George Clooney) is the country's most successful bank robber. On the day Foley escapes from prison, he discovers he's stolen something more valuable than money... the heart of FBI agent Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez). She's smart, alluring, and unfortunately tasked with hunting down Jack Foley. Will love triumph over the law?
7. Rescue Dawn (2007) – Dawn's Liberation
Rescue Dawn is a remarkable film by German director Werner Herzog. Christian Bale portrays Dieter Dengler, a German-American Navy pilot shot down during a raid on Laos in 1965. Captured and tortured by locals as a mockery, he and fellow prisoners quickly devise an escape plan. However, as they flee into the dense jungle, they realize it's a formidable prison in itself.
8. Escape from Alcatraz (1979) – Breaking Free from Alcatraz
Clint Eastwood stars as the ingenious criminal Frank Morris plotting an escape from the high-security fortress of Alcatraz – the toughest prison in America. Morris quickly realizes the brutality of his captors, the sadistic prison guards. So, he and two other inmates meticulously plan an incredible escape.
9. Down By Law (1983) – The Great Jailbreak
Down by Law brings humor and levity as two lazy men (Tom Waits and John Lurie) are wrongly imprisoned. In jail, they meet their quirky Italian cellmate. Despite his limited English, he tells them he knows how to escape. And so, their breakout journey begins!
10. Con Air (1997) – Sky Pirates
Nicolas Cage portrays American Special Forces soldier Cameron Poe - convicted of manslaughter for accidentally killing his wife's attacker. After years of rigorous rehabilitation, Poe is paroled and boards a flight home. This flight carries many dangerous convicts, who plot to hijack the plane and escape. When the aircraft is commandeered by the criminals, Poe must pretend to be their ally and secretly aid law enforcement.
Conclusion
Most of the escape stories above originate from highly intelligent characters, who are either wrongly convicted or find themselves in passive situations. It teaches us not to judge others by appearances. Enjoy your movie-watching moments!
