TCM is doing a month of films based on one of my favorite places, Alcatraz! I am so excited. I have been to Alcatraz a couple of times years ago, and am dying to go again. It is one of those places I find so fascinating and such a part of our history. One of my favorite films is Escape from Alcatraz with Clint Eastwood (1979). It is the true story of the only possible successful escape attempt on the island. Here are some fun facts about the film. It is on tonight TCM 10 p.m. eastern or 7 p.m. pacific time. Have a great day friends!
–During filming, tourists were still allowed onto the island, and a new boatload would arrive every half-hour. They became so much of a distraction that the majority of filming was moved to night shoots.
–Film debut of Danny Glover.
–The windshield wipers on the two front windows on the boat at the very beginning of the movie were installed specifically for that scene. Originally, the two front windows had bars going vertically down the center, similar to the numerous other windows surrounding the pilothouse.
–The guard to whom Doc shows off his “accident” in the carpentry shop is named Mr. Zimmerman. “Zimmerman” is German for “carpenter”.
–The dangerous escape down the prison wall and into the water was performed without stunt doubles. Director ‘Don Siegel (I)’ twice thought that he had lost his actors to the treacherous currents.
–Fifteen miles of cable were required to reconnect the island to the city’s electricity, and a great deal of work was required to restore the prison to its 1963 state. Many of the improvements were kept intact after the film.
–Visitors to Alcatraz Island may be interested in viewing the actual cells that had been home to the real-life inmates by Clint Eastwood (Frank Morris), Fred Ward (John William Anglin), and Jack Thibeau (John’s brother Clarence Anglin). Their cells #138, #140 and #144 are located in B Block (“Michigan Avenue”) along the bottom row. The cells used in the film, however, are located in the C Block, middle cells on the Broadway side along the bottom row.
–The Warden, who is never named during the film, at one point refers to his “predecessors, Wardens Johnston and Blackwell.” Warden Blackwell was the actual warden at the time of Frank Morris’s escape, and this script reference was clearly done to avoid legal trouble.
–Fresh water had to be hauled in by boat to create the rain in the opening scene. Using saltwater would have damaged expensive equipment.
–The boat bringing Morris to Alcatraz in the very beginning of the movie (M/V Warden Johnston, named after the first warden of Alcatraz) was actually used to transport prisoners to and from Alcatraz and was not a mock-up. The boat was built by prisoners in McNeil Island in Washington for this specific purpose, and was used for much of the time Alcatraz was in service as a prison. The makers of the movie borrowed the Johnston from the Sea Scout crew who was operating her at the time (Sea Scout Ship #145, based in Redwood City, CA). Gary F. Warren, who is listed in the credits as a guard, was in fact the boat operator, and was also the leader of the Scout crew at the time.
–The television show, “MythBusters” (2003) proved that this escape worked (or was at least plausible). They recreated the entire escape right down to using the same materials to which the cons had access. They even used the same type of raincoats from which the boat was made. They successfully crossed the bay and reached the shore in exactly the spot that the cons were supposed to have reached.
–In the actual escape, it is now known (or at least, alleged) that Morris and the Anglin brothers were picked up by a motor launch during their swim. Coast Guard records state that a motorboat without running lights did exit the Golden Gate on the night of the escape. Also, several months after the escape, one of the guards in the Anglin brother’s cell block received a blank postcard from Brazil.
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I LOVE this movie! My uncle was a warden at Alcatraz..I think just before it closed…nothing exciting happened when he was there…at least nothing “we” would consider exciting.
Alcatraz is also one of my fave places in San Francisco! I loved being able to see the real “Rock” and it doesn’t disappoint! I would love to go visit again!
Wow! How very interesting. I have yet to visit Alcatraz. It always seemed such a spooky place. Definitely on my list of places to see 🙂
Jen
My friend Walter Lacy managed to get a non-speaking role in that movie as a prison guard. He’d tell us such interesting stories about the movie-making process and said that Clint Eastwood was a really nice guy. Unfortunately, when we eagerly went to see the movie as soon as it was in the theatre, we looked for Lacy in vain. The two scenes he’d been in had been cut!
How interesting, I’ve never seen it!
I need to see this! By the way, I have passed along an award to you in my recent blog post! 🙂
I’ve seen a number of movies about Alcatraz. But I’ve never been there. Your behind the scenes information is always an education.
I just visit Alcatraz this past June! I read a couple of book on the subject before I went. I remember seeing this movie many years ago but I would like to see it again!
Interesting facts Kori! Wasn’t Alcatraz a sad place? I just remember it being cold, wet and kind of scary. Hope you’re able to cozy up tonight during all our wet weather.
Take care,
Martha
ooh I’ve never seen this one, I totally should, it sounds really interesting and hey anything with Clint Eastwood is going to get me watching heehee:)
oh guess what? I finally saw public enemies with Johny Depp…it was so awesome and intense!!! 😀 I loved how well they portrayed the story of Dillinger, the whole cast was spot on!
xoxo
Olivia
p.s. thanks for all the sweet comments you leave they always brighten my day!!! and thank you for awarding Sarah and I with one of your blonde awards! We passed it out the other day:)
That was real cool reading the triva facts for this movie. I saw this movie when I was a kid on AMC. I’ll have to get my son to watch it now. He’s 14.
wow i should def. watch tht movie.
-cris