Two chained-together escaped convicts, White and Black, must learn to get along in order to elude capture.Two chained-together escaped convicts, White and Black, must learn to get along in order to elude capture.Two chained-together escaped convicts, White and Black, must learn to get along in order to elude capture.
- Won 2 Oscars
- 16 wins & 21 nominations total
Lon Chaney Jr.
- Big Sam
- (as Lon Chaney)
Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer
- Angus
- (as Carl Switzer)
Joe Brooks
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Jack Clinton
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Jimmy Dime
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Clem Fuller
- Search Party Member
- (uncredited)
Mickey Golden
- Search Party Member
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Nedrick Young(originally as Nathan E. Douglas)
- Harold Jacob Smith
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe young man with the transistor radio is played by Our Gang/The Little Rascals graduate Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer in his final screen appearance before his untimely death in a shooting incident.
- GoofsTwice they are soaked to the skin in water and mud, but come up with dry cigarettes and matches.
- Quotes
Noah Cullen: I ain't gettin' mad, Joker. I been mad all my natural life.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Precious Images (1986)
- SoundtracksLong Gone
Adapted from "Long Gone (From Bowlin' Green)" (1920)
Music by W.C. Handy (as William C. Handy)
Words by Chris Smith
Sung a cappella by Sidney Poitier (uncredited) several times
Featured review
Covers A Lot Of Ground
This Stanley Kramer classic covers a lot of ground -- literally and figuratively. Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier are white and black inmates who, while chained together at the wrist, escape their captors when their prison truck hits the ditch. Now Curtis is forced to put aside his prejudice and work with his new partner in getting the cuffs off and ensuring their newfound freedom lasts.
As its reputation suggests, THE DEFIANT ONES is first and foremost a study of racism. It has a deliberate unpleasantness about it as it brings to life the unsavory attitudes of the past. A young boy who stumbles across the convicts races to the arms of Curtis for fear Poitier will hurt him. A lonely farm wife who takes the men in has to be told that yes, Poitier deserves a meal, too. And as the men face hanging at the hands of some rednecks, Curtis appeals to them on the grounds a white man can't be lynched. Yet the film carries no tired, moralistic messages, instead allowing the racism on display to speak for itself.
THE DEFIANT ONES goes well beyond its central theme. It's an exciting adventure, along the lines of THE FUGITIVE, as our anti-heroes elude their captors and try to survive in the unforgiving wilderness. It's a story of raw human emotions at work and of overcoming adversity by putting our trust in others. And it's a story of loyalty and the capacity of the human heart to change. We come away with the sense that the people involved with this picture knew they were part of something truly special.
Though he was given second billing, Poitier easily steals the show with his dignified performance. He brilliantly conveys the tortured, yet still upbeat soul of a young black man who came of age in a time of unimaginable difficulty. He often doesn't have to speak to let us know the pain he has and will continue to endure. Poitier proves that critics aren't just being kind when they cite him as one of the great black actors of his or any other era (though as we see here, he is definitely no singer!).
THE DEFIANT ONES moves just a touch slow at times, particularly when the focus is placed on Curtis. But this is a movie as important as it is worth watching.
As its reputation suggests, THE DEFIANT ONES is first and foremost a study of racism. It has a deliberate unpleasantness about it as it brings to life the unsavory attitudes of the past. A young boy who stumbles across the convicts races to the arms of Curtis for fear Poitier will hurt him. A lonely farm wife who takes the men in has to be told that yes, Poitier deserves a meal, too. And as the men face hanging at the hands of some rednecks, Curtis appeals to them on the grounds a white man can't be lynched. Yet the film carries no tired, moralistic messages, instead allowing the racism on display to speak for itself.
THE DEFIANT ONES goes well beyond its central theme. It's an exciting adventure, along the lines of THE FUGITIVE, as our anti-heroes elude their captors and try to survive in the unforgiving wilderness. It's a story of raw human emotions at work and of overcoming adversity by putting our trust in others. And it's a story of loyalty and the capacity of the human heart to change. We come away with the sense that the people involved with this picture knew they were part of something truly special.
Though he was given second billing, Poitier easily steals the show with his dignified performance. He brilliantly conveys the tortured, yet still upbeat soul of a young black man who came of age in a time of unimaginable difficulty. He often doesn't have to speak to let us know the pain he has and will continue to endure. Poitier proves that critics aren't just being kind when they cite him as one of the great black actors of his or any other era (though as we see here, he is definitely no singer!).
THE DEFIANT ONES moves just a touch slow at times, particularly when the focus is placed on Curtis. But this is a movie as important as it is worth watching.
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- ReelCheese
- Oct 8, 2006
- How long is The Defiant Ones?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Flucht in Ketten
- Filming locations
- Kern County, California, USA(crossing the river)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $778,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 36 minutes
- Color
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