Stanley Kramer was a Hollywood producer who turned into a director. He shows he had a promise when he undertook the direction of this production that involved race relations in the America of the 1950s, where segregation was still in place. To even set the story in the Deep South, as he did here, shows that Kramer was clearly not afraid of whatever repercussions the movie would get, or the problems associated for showing this situation to wide audiences.
Basically, this is the story of two men who are shackled together, one white, one black, as they are being transported to a forced labor camp. When their bus suffers an accident, Joker, the white man, and Noah, the black one, see it as their opportunity to escape. There is one problems though, they can't get the chain that binds their wrists to be cut, however much they try.
The sheriff of the place where the accident happens, quickly organizes a manhunt throughout the area. It will be only a matter of time when these two convicts will be caught. What starts as two men trying to avoid being captured, turns out into a sort of friendship between Joker and Noah. Joker, will never accept Noah, and vice versa, but they must stick together if they want to survive.
Tony Curtis, who up to this point in his career, had only been given light roles to play, is the unexpected surprise of the film. In fact, this is one of the best roles he ever played in the movies, bar none. Sidney Poitier, on the other hand, plays against type in the movies. We always saw him as the decent black man who was a noble creature and wasn't appreciated. In this film, none of those qualities are shown by his character, who must deal with the burden of having to drag Joker along at the same time he is trying to save his own skin.
The supporting cast made an excellent contribution to Mr. Kramer's direction. The excellent Theodore Bikel played Sheriff Max Muller with conviction. Charles McGraw, Leon Chaney Jr., Claude Akins, and Cora Williams contribute to make this film better than it could have been.
The brilliant black and white photography by Sam Leavitt enhanced the film. Stanley Kramer deserved credit for bringing this story into the screen at a time when no one was doing anything as daring as what he did.
Basically, this is the story of two men who are shackled together, one white, one black, as they are being transported to a forced labor camp. When their bus suffers an accident, Joker, the white man, and Noah, the black one, see it as their opportunity to escape. There is one problems though, they can't get the chain that binds their wrists to be cut, however much they try.
The sheriff of the place where the accident happens, quickly organizes a manhunt throughout the area. It will be only a matter of time when these two convicts will be caught. What starts as two men trying to avoid being captured, turns out into a sort of friendship between Joker and Noah. Joker, will never accept Noah, and vice versa, but they must stick together if they want to survive.
Tony Curtis, who up to this point in his career, had only been given light roles to play, is the unexpected surprise of the film. In fact, this is one of the best roles he ever played in the movies, bar none. Sidney Poitier, on the other hand, plays against type in the movies. We always saw him as the decent black man who was a noble creature and wasn't appreciated. In this film, none of those qualities are shown by his character, who must deal with the burden of having to drag Joker along at the same time he is trying to save his own skin.
The supporting cast made an excellent contribution to Mr. Kramer's direction. The excellent Theodore Bikel played Sheriff Max Muller with conviction. Charles McGraw, Leon Chaney Jr., Claude Akins, and Cora Williams contribute to make this film better than it could have been.
The brilliant black and white photography by Sam Leavitt enhanced the film. Stanley Kramer deserved credit for bringing this story into the screen at a time when no one was doing anything as daring as what he did.