Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

At 18, Carnes is the youngest man to be sent to The Rock, yet he vows he'll create the ultimate escape plan -- or die trying!

1980 · 196 min · ★ 5.5 · Crime, Drama, Action, TV Movie

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 · Written by Clarence Carnes

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Cast

Michael Beck Clarence Carnes
Art Carney Robert Stroud
Alex Karras Jughead Miller
Telly Savalas Cretzer
Will Sampson Clarence's Father
Ronny Cox Bernard Coy
Richard Lynch Sam Shockley
Robert Davi Hubbard
John Amos Bumpy Johnson
James MacArthur Walt Stomer
Ed Lauter Frank Morris
Joe Pantoliano Ray Neal

Make it a double feature

4h 49m together

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

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Both from Paul Krasny.

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