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Actors: Sidney Poitier, Tony Curtis, Theodore Bikel, Claude Aikens
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Defiant Ones |
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There was once a futuristic film where prison escapees had to remain within 100 yards of each other or their matching neck bands would explode. So imagine escaping from a 1950's Deep South work gang literally chained at the wrist to someone you loathe. That's what happened to black Noah Cullen (Poitier) and bigoted white auto mechanic Joker Jackson (Curtis) in Stanley Kramer's 1958 Best Screenplay, “The Defiant Ones.”
To survive, each must adapt to the other and work as a team. Joker is superb as the acerbic bigot who never lets Noah forget his “inferior” status. “You call me that again and I'll kill you." However, Noah remains his usual cool self, more focused on escape than sparring with Joker.
The pair is pursued in storms and heat. In one of their tethered adventures they are nearly hanged by local townsfolk as they attempt to steal food. But the ending is the real heartstopper. They meet a lonely widow who finally breaks their chains. While “the woman” and Joker plan to head east in her car, he learns that she has pointed Joker on a wild goose chase through the deadly swamp. Joker abandons her to rescue Noah from his fate.
With hounds on their trail, the pair races through the swamp towards the nearing train to freedom. Noah just makes it and stretches his arm symbolically and physically to its limit in an attempt to pull the stumbling Joker aboard the accelerating train.
--Angry Jim Magin, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The Defiant Ones |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1930's-1950's
Crime & Scandal
Yes
Story of
- criminals on the run
- criminal becomes sensitive
Ethnic/Regional/Gender story?
Yes
Main Char. ethnic: (if not US Caucasian)
- Black
Culture of surrounding area:
- American South
Vigilante/Revenge?
Yes
Escape/Rescue?
- escape/rescue from prison/confinement
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- unemployed
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard curly
Body type
- (man) muscular
Events of movie makes character more...
- caring
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Black
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average build
Unclothed?
- chest
How much in movie?
- 90%-100%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- a fight for survival
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Deep South
Forest?
Yes
Misc setting
- prison
- moving train
- bar
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- thoughtful
Check here if B&W
Yes
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
If this is a kid's movie...
- Ages 10-15
If soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Country/Western
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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