Top Prison Films

Birdman of Alcatraz

Not strictly prison film, but The Defiant Ones is marvellous.

Escape from Alcatraz

also the very ancient but excellent I am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang

Bridge Over The River Kwai
Stalag 17
King Rat
Escape from Alcatraz (altho not in same class as other 3)

Original Mean Machine with Burt Reynolds.. Not the Vinny one

I am not going to repeat all the usual suspects but anyone that likes prison films should watch the true story of Larry Murphy a runner jailed for life & his quest to run in the olympics it stars Peter Strauss & is called THE JERICHO MILE
It really is an excellent film.

McVicar

Porridge - The Movie

The Onion Field

See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Law Abiding Citizen
The Butterfly Effect (tenuous I know, but worthy of a mention)

Escape to Victory a shocking omission imo

Scum. . .

diggers
Joined: 06 Sep 05
Replies: 140 24 Sep 10 17:43   
Shawshank Redemption
Brubaker
The Escapist
White Heat
The Rock
Stir Crazy
The Hill
The Great Escape
Scum

Lock Up a shocking ommission IMHO

A Sense of Freedom.
btw thanks for this thread, just noticed the whole film is on youtube.

scrubbers

i'm waiting for the new prison film to be released. it's called BEND DOWN starring george michael

felon.great film imo

Chopper, just about qualifies I would say. A great film by the way.

Ghosts of the civil dead

Good shout with Chopper. . .

'The Prophet'

Prisoner cell block H

Two-Way Stretch

The Hoosegow

Pardon Us

The Count of Monte Cristo

Can't believe I forgot Dead Man Walking.

Green Street 2

'Midnight Express' [youre walking the wrong wAy]

Unchained [of unchained melody fame]

The music in Midnight Express is superb, the only film I ever went to the pictures to see the same  film twice.

Two Way Stretch

alun2005 cant believe i forgot the prophet the best film of last year. . . Really great film. . .

oh brother, where art thou?

I Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang

Green Mile for me, not seen a lot of the others mentioned though.

not counting the brilliant OFOTCN as a prison movie.

There was an old b&w prison movie called Unchained.The theme music was given lyrics and became......Unchained Melody.True.

How on earth did you miss off Clint Eastwood's Escape From Alcatraz when Shawshank stole so much from it?

The Hurricane

Dead Man Walking must be worth a mention Shirley.

BRUTE FORCE starring Burt Lancaster.Which was made in 1947,I think.A MAN ESCAPED.A very fine french film that was made in 1956.