Escape from Alcatraz is a 1979 American prison thriller directed by Don Siegel and starring Clint Eastwood. It’s based on the true story of the 1962 escape from the maximum-security prison on Alcatraz Island.
The film follows Frank Morris (played by Clint Eastwood), a highly intelligent convict with a history of prison escapes. In 1960, he’s transferred to Alcatraz, the most secure prison in the United States, known for being inescapable. Once inside, Morris quickly assesses the brutal conditions and the strict rules enforced by the cold and authoritarian Warden.
Morris forms friendships with fellow inmates, including the Anglin brothers, John and Clarence, and together they devise a meticulous escape plan. Using stolen tools, papier-mâché dummy heads, and a homemade raft, they work in secret to tunnel through the walls of their cells and access the utility corridor behind them.
After months of planning and digging, the group finally attempts the escape on the night of June 11, 1962. The film ends ambiguously, with the escapees disappearing into the night. Their fate is left unresolved, reflecting the real-life mystery of whether they survived the treacherous swim to freedom.
