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Movie Info & Details
Release Year1980
Runtime3h 16m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationNR
GenresCrime, Drama, Action
Votes4
DirectorPaul Krasny
WritersClarence Carnes, Don DeNevi
TypeFeature Film
Rating5.5 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsAlcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
About Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
Filmed on location at Alcatraz Island, this two-part "whole story" actually concentrates on a handful of the denizens behind the cold grey walls of "The Rock". Michael Beck plays the real-life Clarence Carnes, an Oklahoma Choctaw Indian said to be the youngest man ever incarcerated in the notorious maximum security prison. Serving a 99-year sentence for a gas station holdup and murder, Carnes makes periodic attempts to escape, the final attempt being the most violent. Many of the subordinate characters are fictional (as are most of the details concerning Carnes' escape efforts); the one exception is Robert Stroud, the "Birdman of Alcatraz", here portrayed by Art Carney as a gentle, kindly philosopher. Telly Savalas, a costar of the Burt Lancaster vehicle Birdman of Alcatraz, also guest starred in the 1980 film. Originally titled Alcatraz and Clarence Carnes, this made-for-TV movie wavers between gritty realism and "I'm bustin' outta here!" artifice.
Directed by Paul Krasny, Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story leans on a strong ensemble — Michael Beck, Art Carney, Alex Karras — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about crime titles of 1980.
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