Tag Archives: William Holden

BEST PRISON ESCAPE MOVIES EVER MADE (10+1LIST)

Best prison escape movies ever made.

written by Sriram Sundar

Prison films are generally classified into two categories: the first type is the escape-drama where the jailbirds desperately attempts to break away from high security prisons, and the second category is more focused on the life inside the prison walls.

Now these Jailbreak movies are spiked with high dozes of suspense and tension; and most often you start sympathising with the convict and his desperate attempts for freedom – but then can he succeed in his attempt to break free or remain trapped in the system?

Well, let’s check out the fate of the prisoner in some of these Best prison escape movies ever made.

10. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hB3S9bIaco

Covering a period from 1946 to 1967, Shawshank focuses on the plight of a Maine banker, Andy Dufresne who sentenced to two life terms for the murder of his wife and lover.

Directed by Frank Darabont, this film was also nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Morgan Freeman as Ellis Redding, the veteran inmate of Shawshank State Prison who takes Tim Robbins (Andy Dufresne) under his wing. The greatest movie ever made..! Period.

9. Papillon (1973)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW_IWHw3z-U

Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, this  movie is based on a book by the same name authored by Henri Charriere, a former convict and fugitive from Devil’s Island and though the work is fiction, the background is entirely based on real events.

Papillon  (Steve McQueen) is charged with a crime he hasn’t committed, and Luis Dega (Dustin Hoffman), a fraud banker is convicted on counterfeit charges. Bound by mutual necessity, they soon become friends during their journey to Devil’s Island.

8. Escape from Alcatraz (1979)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSS0fH9zzFY

Directed by Don Siegel, this film is a little slow and doesn’t move in a breakneck pace but still, it is listed as a “classic” on most movie review sites,

Clint Eastwood strolled through this movie naturally as Frank Morris, a soft spoken, solitary prisoner who was destined to escape Alcatraz. Been rated PG (“parental guidance suggested”) as it includes some explicit violence, bloodshed and obscene language.

7. Anything for Her (2008)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBZVsLoSsDU

Police burst into the house of happily married schoolteacher Julien (Vincent Lindon) and arrest his wife, Lisa (Diane Kruger) on suspicion of murdering her female boss. She’s given a 20-year sentence and he’s left to raise their small son.  As time passes, diabetic Lisa stops taking her insulin in an attempted suicide and Lucien feels that time is running out to keep his family together. He goes about meticulously planning her escape – but how does one go about breaking someone out of prison?

Directed by Fred Cavayé, it is a fast-paced and engrossing thriller that gained a nomination for Best First Work at the César Awards in 2009.

6. The Great Escape (1963)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkwmIDx9RwQ

This movie tells the story of a group of prisoners of war who try to escape from a Nazi POW camp during World War II, with the help of a meticulous and ingenious plan. Steve McQueen epitomizes the attitude with his frequent shenanigans.

Directed by John Sturges, “The Great Escape” is regarded as one of the greatest WWII films ever. The movie starts  with the signature theme tune that is heard around many football grounds even today.

5. The Hole (1960)

Le trou (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK7fZrSC6VA

Five prisoners housed in a French prison during the late 1940s awaiting sentence break through their cell floor, enter the insides of the prison, and get to the sewer system from where they can break into the regular sewage setup and finally freedom. But the best-laid plans are foiled by a newcomer who turns them in.

Sadly, this was Director Jacques Becker‘s last film – he died just a few weeks after filming on Le Trou had been completed.

4. Stalag 17 (1953)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T86RDFgzC5U

Directed by Billy WilderStalag 17 begins with two prisoners from the barrack who, after careful planning with the rest of inmates try to escape the camp but are discovered & shot down. It is  a light-hearted thriller drama that makes you laugh all along.

All eyes fall on Sgt. Sefton (William Holden) who frequently makes exchanges with German guards for small luxuries. To protect himself from a mob of his enraged fellow inmates, Sgt. Sefton resolves to find the true traitor within their midst.

3. La Grande Illusion (1937)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hctrYzVYmfM

Director Jean Renoir tells us the story of a group of French soldiers who are held captive in prisoner of war camps during the First World War, the war that was to end all wars.

Lieutenant Marechal (Jean Gabin) is a pilot and blue collar guy while Captain de Boldieu is an aristocrat. They are shot down by Captain von Rauffenstein, a German aristocrat, while flying a reconnaissance mission. This movie received an Oscar nomination for best motion picture of the year.

2. Midnight Express (1978)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buDEEC7tKv4

‘Midnight Express’ takes you into a world where the only thing that can keep you alive in this horrible real world is bravery.  This film also won two Oscars; ‘Best Music, Original Score’ and ‘Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.

Directed by Alan Parker, it is the true story of Billy Hayes (Brad Davis), an American tourist who gets caught trying to smuggle several kilos of hashish out of the country.

1. A Man Escaped (1956)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6nHFpKK6Lc

“When one is in prison, the most important thing is the door.”
– Robert Bresson

Based on the memoirs of André Devigny, who escaped from Fort Montlucin Lyonin 1943, during World War II, ‘A Man Escaped’ tells the story of Fontaine (François Leterrier), a member of the French Resistance who is imprisoned by the Nazis in Montluc prison after an unsuccessful escape attempt.

Director Robert Bressons masterpiece is still a pinnacle in French cinema.

and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch.

+1. I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QvF2FZZftY

For director Mervyn LeRoy, with a career that spanned more than three decades, ‘I am a Fugitive from a Chain’ Gang represented one of his first major successes.

James Allen (Paul Muni) is wrongfully convicted of a crime and is sent to work in a chain gang where he first encounters this living hell. He spends years of being treated like an animal by the inhumane prison system. But he waits, biding his time for the perfect moment to make a break for freedom.

Best War Films of all times (10+1list)

Best War Films of all times.

written by Souranath Banerjee.

There are two categories of war films. The first type glamorizes and romanticizes the concept of war for the entertainment of the audience, as most of us want to enjoy the thrill of the battle-zone but shy away from the real horrors and perils of it.

Now the second kind of films actually portray war as realistically as possible; the bloodshed, the destruction, the cries of the wounded and the death of the young and innocents.

“It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.”

The cinemas listed below mostly belong to the second category; films that have the courage to paint the real ugly face of war and tell stories of not only courage and strength and also of brutality and helplessness of both soldiers and the civilians.

Let the list begin.

10. Paths of Glory (1957)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmDA60X-f_A

paths-of-glory-posterDirected by Stanley Kubrick, for me this film has always scored higher than his other two famous war films Full Metal Jacket (1987) and Dr. Strangelove (1964).

The ruthlessness of war (WW I) and the dirty war-politics played by the higher army officials – both portrayed to perfection.

One of Kirk Douglas‘s most memorable performances. 

9. Apocalypse Now (1979)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkrhkUeDCdQ

apocalypse-now-posterDirector Francis Ford Coppola shot nearly 200 hours of footage – a film that took 16 months of shooting and 3 years of editing.

A highly potent mix of Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando and the disturbing Vietnam War. 

The sound of the helicopter wings panning from left to right as they are match cut with the ceiling fan – simply epic!

8. Come and See (1985)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-Ro0SZf438

Come-and-see-posterIn this film the horrors of war (WW II) is depicted in the most realistic manner (often too graphic and brutal). 

Directed by Elem Klimov, the film is about a young boy who finds an old rifle and decides to join the Soviet Army. 

Original uniforms and live ammunitions were used for authenticity.

7. All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiObc2XmVqw

all-quiet-on-the-western-front-posterBanned in Germany soon after it’s release as they claimed that the Germans were shown as cowards.

Directed by Lewis Milestone, this was the first talkie war film to win the Oscar! (won best picture and best director).

Though visuals of extreme violence was consciously avoided but still the film’s depiction of WW I is honest and brutal.

6. Das Boot (1981)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMj0_wCn6jM

das-boot-posterDirected by Wolfgang Petersen this is the epic tale of the crew of a German U-boat (submarine) during the last phase of WW II. 

Highly claustrophobic (most of the film is shot inside the submarine) and yet so dramatic and powerful. Some of the tensed moments in the film are slow and nerve wrenching.

Jürgen Prochnow gives a brilliant performance!

5. The Thin Red Line (1998)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCmlOhsIwBk

The-Thin-Red-Line-PosterDirected by Terrence Malick the film was nominated for Oscars in 7 categories!

A kind of a philosophical war film starring Jim CaviezelSean PennNick NolteAdrien BrodyJohn CusackJohn C. ReillyWoody HarrelsonJared LetoJohn TravoltaGeorge Clooney.

‘Every man fights their own war’ and so does each of them!

4. The Cruel Sea (1953)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joUDAD3GB3g

cruel-sea-poster

Though successful when released, this one is among the less popular war films but believe me, it surely deserves a spot in this list.

Directed by Charles Frend, this one is a terrific war drama of a British convoy ship in action over the North Atlantic during the WW II. 

Powerful script and and tensed situations and superb acting, specially by Jack Hawkins.

3. Platoon (1986)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KztP7SKe0uk

platoon-posterWar often gets too brutal for the young recruits and the Vietnam War was no different.

The film is directed by Oliver Stone (himself a Vietnam veteran) and he also won the Oscar for this film on Vietnam War!

It is said to be the most complete war film ever made, though it’s banned in Vietnam because of its depiction of the Vietnamese

2. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlC7XBayj0s

bridge-on-the-river-kwai-posterDirected by  David Lean who is also famous for his other war films like In Which We Serve (1942) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962).

British prisoners in the Japanese camp ordered to built a bridge, one of the greatest WW II war drama. The film took 7 Oscars that year, won in all the major categories!

William HoldenAlec Guinness and Jack Hawkins has given their career best performances.

1. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EsVtn2GvBo

saving-private-ryan-poster

A team lead by Tom Hanks was set to save Private Ryan (Matt Damon) and bring him home.

Steven Spielberg directed this film and according to many it contains some of the most authentic war scenes ever filmed (specially the Omaha Beach battle sequence).

Probably the most popular war film ever. Also Voted #1 greatest war film in UK’s Channel 4 poll in 2005. 

and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most profound and unique one. A must watch).

+1. Ivan’s Childhood (1962)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=setzqMoEEUU

ivan's-childhood-posterThis is the story of 12 year old Ivan directed by the famous Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky

A spy at such an young age, Ivan has seen the perils of war too closely and yet he again voluntarily wants to risk his life for his country.

The film is one of the most poetic and beautifully shot war films. Though it doesn’t show much of actual combat but still it delivers the chills of war to it’s full effect.

A few other war-films that could have easily made the list are Stalingrad (1993), Enemy at the Gates (2001), Patton (1970), Ran (1985), The Dirty Dozen (1967), The Cross of Iron (1977), Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970), Red Cliff (2008), Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), Rome, Open City (1945), The Guns of Navarone (1961), A Bridge Too Far (1977), The Hurt Locker (2008), Where Eagles Dare (1968) and La Grande Illusion (1937).