Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story 44 years old
At 18, Carnes is the youngest man to be sent to The Rock, yet he vows he'll create the ultimate escape plan -- or die trying!
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.
Credits
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Michael Beck He was 31, now 75 years old | as Clarence Carnes |
| Peter Coyote He was 39, now 83 years old | as Courtney Taylor |
| Joe Pantoliano He was 29, now 73 years old | as Ray Neal |
| Ronny Cox He was 42, now 86 years old | as Bernard Coy |
| Jeffrey Tambor He was 36, now 80 years old | as Dankworth |
| G. W. Bailey He was 36, now 80 years old | as Holfield |
| Ed Lauter He was 42, 74 years old when he died | as Frank Morris |
| Art Carney He was 62, 85 years old when he died | as Robert Stroud |
| Paul Mantee He was 49, 82 years old when he died | as Ordway |
| Robert Davi He was 27, now 71 years old | as Hubbard |
| Telly Savalas He was 58, 72 years old when he died | as Cretzer |
| Alex Karras He was 45, 77 years old when he died | as Jughead Miller |
| Richard Lynch He was 40, 72 years old when he died | as Sam Shockley |
| John Amos He was 40, now 84 years old | as Bumpy Johnson |
| Stack Pierce He was 47, 82 years old when he died | as Presser |
| Will Sampson He was 47, 53 years old when he died | as Clarence's Father |
| James MacArthur He was 42, 72 years old when he died | as Walt Stomer |
| Hoke Howell He was 51, 67 years old when he died | as Store Owner |
| Louis Giambalvo He was 35, now 79 years old | as Clarence Anglin |
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story Crew
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Ernest Tidyman as Teleplay. He was 52 (56) years old when He died | Writing |
| James H. Brown as Producer. He was 50 (80) years old when He died | Production |
| Paul Krasny as Director. He was 45 (66) years old when He died | Directing |
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (44 years)
At 18, Carnes is the youngest man to be sent to The Rock, yet he vows he'll create the ultimate escape plan -- or die trying!
- Release day: Wednesday, November 05, 1980
- Runtime: 196 minutes