Maidexpl Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

Fairaher The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Numerootno A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

Francene Odetta It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

russellalancampbell This film has something to say about the human condition as well as being a gripping and realistic drama. The cast is perfection with an outstanding performance from Hume Cronyn who plays against his usual mild-mannered type as the insidiously sadistic captain of the guard. The flashback vignettes involving the women in some of the convicts'lives are short but telling. The smooth conman had been conned, the small and insignificant con, played by the ubiquitous Whit Bissel, had embezzled in order to give his beautiful wife a mink coat and the physically imposing con, played by Lancaster had fallen in love with a gentle, wheelchair bound girl. It is not an attempt to make the cons "good guys" but it does make them human. The climactic breakout scene is a masterpiece - a blend of the literal and the metaphorical.

tkidcharlemagne I am incredulous how no one has noted the communistic propaganda in this piece. Most notably it's right there in plain sight. The cell number. R17. Revolution 1917; Russian revolution 1917. The director was a noted Jewish communist and was blacklisted because of it. I don't want to dwell too much on that as this is an ideology I despise. However the movie has a kinetic energy that modern movies find hard to surpass. Superb performances and great editing. This could just as well be an allegory for the bravery of any action against a brutal totalitarian movement.

Fella_shibby I first saw this on a VHS in the early 90s. Revisited this recently on a DVD. The plot is very simple n straight forward but shot in a very innovative n thrilling manner. It shows one of the most realistic looks at prison life. The plot - The prison is a walled island facility ruled by a sadistic head guard (Hume Cronyn). The warden is weak and inefficient, and the prison doctor a drunk. Inmate (Burt Lancaster) is just back from solitary after being set up by one of Cronyns snitch. We all know what happens to a snitch in a prison... Later v r introduced to all the ladies thru a very innovative flashbacks n how Lancasters wife is reluctant to undergo an operation if he is not present beside her. Of course she ain't aware that he is in prison. As time is ticking n Cronyns dictatorship methods r growing -the mens activities are taken away, parole hearings are suspended and no visitors are allowed. Lancaster along with other inmates plans a breakout.... Lancasters fellow inmates also hav back stories (told in romantic flashbacks). John Hoyts (a very striking personality ) wild night with femme fatale was an entertaining one. It is a very hard-hitting film, very well directed n acted by all. Although Burt Lancaster is the star of the movie, the film is really about all the prisoners - Lancasters fellow inmates n the men that help them try to escape. A very good drama thriller, superbly acted, very well directed n edited. Kudos to the director Jules Dassin for making a hard-hitting n realistic prison drama/thriller.

og_swifty One of several great noirs directed by Jules Dassin, a man who's views gained him exclusive place on (in)famous Hollywood blacklist (which later met the representative of Dr. Walters as well). The film was shocking in its time for violent scenes and the depiction of the chief of the prison as a sadistic bastard (which is normal phenomenon nowadays). I personally enjoyed flashbacks of prisoners from cell R17, because it was nice and quick overview of their "destinies" and it was also some room for femininity in the movie - bringing the beauty of Ann Blyth, Yvonne de Carlo, Ella Raines and Anita Colby. Burt Lancaster really fit in the role of Joe and Hume Cronyn really reminded me Percy from Green Mile - the only difference was that Munsey was not so cocky...