Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

196 mins | Drama, Crime, Action, TV Movie | Nov. 5, 1980

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.

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

196 mins | Drama, Crime, Action, TV Movie | Nov. 5, 1980

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
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.
IMDb rating 7.1
Producers Pierre Cossette Enterprises
Original title Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
Directors Paul Krasny
Writers Don DeNevi, Clarence Carnes, Ernest Tidyman

Cast

Michael Beck

as Clarence Carnes

Art Carney

as Robert Stroud

Alex Karras

as Jughead Miller

Telly Savalas

as Cretzer

Will Sampson

as Clarence's Father

Ronny Cox

as Bernard Coy

Richard Lynch

as Sam Shockley

Robert Davi

as Hubbard

John Amos

as Bumpy Johnson

James MacArthur

as Walt Stomer

Ed Lauter

as Frank Morris

Joe Pantoliano

as Ray Neal

Louis Giambalvo

as Clarence Anglin

Jeffrey Tambor

as Dankworth

Paul Mantee

as Ordway

Charles Aidman

as Warden Johnson

Jack Rader

as Weinhold

Walter Mathews

as Corwin

Spencer Milligan

as Fred Haskell

Sidney Clute

as Miller

Redmond Gleeson

as Jackson

Bradford English

as Thompkins

Antony Ponzini

as John Anglin

Paul Picerni

as Lt. Lagason

Burt Marshall

as Guard

Lois Red Elk

as Clarence's Mother

Arthur Taxier

as Connelly

David Doyle

as Guard

G.W. Bailey

as Holfeld

Sandy Ward

as McIntire

Stack Pierce

as Presser

Tom Lupo

as Dunslay

Roger Hackett

as Male Nurse

Ken Letner

as Armory Lieutenant

Tom O'Neill

as Guard

Al Cingolani

as Carroll

Bob Hoy

as Myron Thompson

Peter Coyote

as Courtney Taylor

John Waggoner

as Alphie

Wiley Marker

as Judge Goodman

John Chappell

as Sheriff's Deputy

Peter Jason

as Lt. Micklin

Hoke Howell

as Store Owner

Jocko Marcellino

as Prisoner

Roger Hampton

as Hampton

James Harrison

as Dumpy

Jim Steck

as Guard Crayden

Pat Valentino

as Colman

W.T. Zacha

as Baggett

David De Lange

as Lt. Stenfield

Francis X. McCarthy

as Lt. Holmby

James Jeter

as Guard Fairgate

Angelo Grisanti

as Convict

Jim Haynie

as Salkin

Nick Eldredge

as Larwin

Robert Elross

as Vernon