Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

TV Movie
1980
3h 16m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (1980)

Fact based story of the lives and attempted 1946 escape of several inmates in the famous correctional facility. Young inmate Clarence Carnes masterminds a grand escape involving several inma... Read allFact based story of the lives and attempted 1946 escape of several inmates in the famous correctional facility. Young inmate Clarence Carnes masterminds a grand escape involving several inmates who have nothing to lose, serving life sentences.Fact based story of the lives and attempted 1946 escape of several inmates in the famous correctional facility. Young inmate Clarence Carnes masterminds a grand escape involving several inmates who have nothing to lose, serving life sentences.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

350

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The film does not show that Carnes, after escaping from the Granite Reformatory in Oklahoma, carjacked a passing driver and forced the driver to take him across the state line. That resulted in federal charges of kidnapping and crossing state lines to flee prosecution. That was the reason he was sent into the federal prison system; which resulted in him being sent first to United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth, and then to Alcatraz.

Goofs
When Carnes arrives at Alcatraz in 1945, there's an establishing shot of the island from the prison launch. You can clearly see that the warden's mansion is a burned out shell. (This happened in the Occupation of Alcatraz by American Indians from 1969-1971.) In 1945, the warden's mansion was intact and being used.

Quotes
Clarence Carnes: [Runs past Stroud's cell and sees him standing passively, when the doors to D-Block's cells are opened during the 1946 escape attempt. He runs back] Come on! You're free!
Robert Stroud: [calmly] I'm not going anywhere.
Clarence Carnes: Come on man, let's go!
Robert Stroud: Guys like them boys do things the hard way, don't they?
[sits down on his bunk and picks up the book he'd been reading before the commotion began]
Robert Stroud: They'll be dead before sundown; and a lot of other poor, ignorant fools with them. Maybe you too, son.
Clarence Carnes: But... You're in this cell for life.
Robert Stroud: You're an Indian, aren't you? I know how you feel about being free. But let me tell you something: there's one worse than doing life, and that's no life at all. Think about that.
Clarence Carnes: [Looks at Stroud who's resumed reading and then runs back along the D-Block walkway] Come on! Everybody out!

User reviews6

Featured review

10/10

Michael Beck Gives an Outstanding Performance...

I have to agree that this is truly "the best Alcatraz movie ever made." The film follows the prison life of young Clarence Carnes played perfectly by Michael Beck(The Warriors, Triumphs of a Man Called Horse)who gives an outstanding performance. I was lucky enough to catch this movie on Encore's True Stories Channel. Clarence Carnes was the youngest man sent to Alcatraz and carried with him a record of trying to escape every jail he's ever been in. His character manages to show different emotions allowing the audience to truly feel for him. He never loses hope of escaping and proves that he's smart enough to pull it off if he wanted to. As years go by, he gains more and more respect and recognition. Art Carney(The Honeymooners) contributes greatly to the supporting cast offering memorable dialogue with Beck. If you have never seen this movie or want to see it again, be on the look out for some familiar faces, Joe Pantoliano, G.W. Bailey, and many others. The story is captivating and truly moving.I was two years old when this movie first came out and I saw if for the second time a few months ago. The tale of hope and the power of knowledge is timeless. If you want to see an Alcatraz movie worthy of the highest rating, this is it, "Alcatraz - The Whole Shocking Story."