Customer Reviews

Defiant Ones [VHS]

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Defiant Ones is one of the great American films. Released in 1958, this starkly filmed story of two convicts on the run for their freedom evokes powerful emotions for the viewer. Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier are wonderful in their roles and display a level of screen chemistry that has been sadly lacking in contemporary films. It is hard to say which one is better due to their very different but equally powerful performance. As one might expect, the two cons start out hating each other, but slowly develop a grudging respect for one another as they learn about the others life and eventually a kind of friendship is formed. The secondary story concerns the posse on their trail and the friction that develops amongst them as the chase goes on. Cara Williams is memorable as the woman that Curtis cares for while on the run and is the character that causes a change in his attitude that leads directly to the bittersweet ending. Theodore Bikel is also very accomplished as the beleagered Sheriff and Lon Chaney Jr. is very good as a townsman who has a special reason for aiding the 2 cons in their escape. The Defiant Ones is a great film that almost 50 years later still prods us with the reminder that YES, WE CAN learn to overcome our differences over race and live with and care for each other. Both Curtis and Poitier are at the top of their game here and each received an Academy Award nomination deservedly. A final note: watch the last scene and decide for yourself- was it an accident or did one friend make a sacrifice for another?

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''The Defiant Ones'' is one of those rare films which after having been seen only once had the ability to stick with me for an entire lifetime! (Other such gems having had a similar effect on me include Chaplin's first 'talkie,' ''The Great Dictator,'' the original ''Night of the Living Dead,'' the cheesy and awful but fun sci-fi cult flick ''Laserblast,'' and Orson Welles' ''Citizen Kane.'') I've just had the opportunity to purchase the DVD and view this film for only the second time, and it was every bit as good and intense as I remember from that first time!

''The Defiant Ones'' teams up the legendary Tony Curtis and the equally legendary and talented Sidney Poitier as convicted felons John ''Joker'' Jackson and Noah Cullen who, as a result of a racially sparked physical scuffle between the two of them, partly contribute to the road accident their transport vehicle becomes involved in. The resulting crash gives these two chained together prisoners an opportunity to escape on foot.

But this is pre-1960s southern USA, so when the arriving law officers responsible for tracking the prisoners down learn that the two chained together escaped cons are of different racial backgrounds they become somewhat lax in their pursuit, erroneously assuming that the two escapees would likely kill each other out of racial hatred before they'd even get five miles.

Forced to cooperate despite the racial tensions between them, Joker and Noah do not take their predicament lightly and are constantly on the move to stay as far ahead of their pursuers as possible. In the days that follow both men form something of an uneasy camaraderie, and the conversations they strike up between themselves actually seem to help smooth over some of those racial tensions they exhibit toward each other, to where each man gains a certain amount of respect for the other. Joker is also made to confront some unpleasant realities, such as being forced to admit in his heart that Noah is the more rational of the two and, especially, having to come to terms with the fact that his white skin is no safety net when he is an escaped criminal on the run.

There is also a 'human interest' story in the subplot of the film, some of it just somewhat ahead of its time: The County Sheriff becomes the catalyst which keeps the chase from becoming a reckless and disorderly ''Good Ol' Boy'' guns, dawgs & testosterone party, and one of the townspeople, portrayed by the legendary Lon Chaney Jr., keeps a town's citizenry from becoming an emotionally irrational lynch mob.

The cinematography is excellent for a movie of its time, although some of the sets could have been better constructed and arranged (for example, there's one set where the city lights of Los Angeles shine in the background beyond the studio lot). It is also nice to hear actors talking with southern accents that don't sound like ''Foghorn Leghorn'' rejects.

To even consider ''remaking'' this classic film would not only be a terrible mistake, but it would also be a virtual impossibility ... so hopefully no one in Hollyweird, or anywhere else for that matter, would ever think of doing such a thing, and thus let this great piece of movie making history stand on its own and to continue to stand the test of time.

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A black-and-white movie about a hateful pair of black and white convicts struggling for their lives and against each other. During the era of the film in the South, it is amazing that a black man would touch a white -- let alone be chained to him with a defiant attitude. What is more remarkable than the intense hatred and out-and-out fist fight is the bond that forms between this unlikely pair as they flee for their lives after a prison break. Pushing personal differences aside, they must learn to rely upon one another or die trying.

Movie quote: "I ain't gettin' mad, Joker. I been mad all my natural life."

All I need to see is that Sidney Poitier is in a movie and it WILL BE A GOOD MOVIE. I thought that this movie with him and Tony Curtis was GREAT! I own almost every movie that is available that has Sidney Poitier in it. I was hooked on his movies and intrigued by Mr. Poitier when I saw "To Sir, With Love" for the first time. I have yet to see Sidney Poitier do a bad movie. This movie was done as a lot of his movies during the times when there was a lot of racial tension. I think that Sidney Poitier picked his movies carefully and all of them have had a very good point to make and in making the point on each of his movies they have all been good story lines. I really think that Sidney Poitier should have won a lot more academy awards than just the one for "Lilies of the Field"! I realize that this is more a commentary than a review, just wanted to put my thoughts down.

Words really can not define Curtis and Poitier performance in this film. Sidney Poitier my favorite, roles are always powerful and simply worthwatching. Tony Curtis plays a strong southern racist. Curtis and poitier skills as actor's in this film made it worthwatching, no wonder it was nominated for 9 Academy Awards. The lives of two convicts escaping from the southren chain gain. Through it all the men are bound together by a chain and separtated by their own haterd towards each other. This film is powerful, fastmoving, and exciting not a dull moment. I highly give this film a 10+.

There is no need for me to go into what has been reiterated many times by other's opinions and reviews; that being the black & white thing. However, what I noticed in this movie was the under tones of homoeroticism, which to me was also groundbreaking during this period. Not only were black and white separated by realities that Joker constantly reminded Cullen of, but also there seemed to be a line that was being crossed in regards to the relationship itself. They were falling asleep in each other's arms for heavens sake! Cullen even carries Joker to bed LOL! Then Joker leaves a white woman to be with a black man by arguing with her that "she doesn't know him" and I couldn't help but to see what wasn't stated by him that "Cullen does know him". The two defiant ones got to the foundation of their hatred, that it is all conditioned based on their mutual acceptance of what they had learned during this period of American history. With the walls torn down the heart surrenders to the love that caused it. And then there is the ending. A sacrifice for a friend because it is more powerful than any walls or chains. At first they were bonded by the chain and then by the end, by the heart. Cullen hinted at this near the end as well. Simply quite beautiful and because I am a gay man these things stick out to me maybe more so than the average viewer. But, then again if this is based on the story of Huck and Jim there are questions re: that relationship as well. Just sayin.

The basic story of the film is that 2 convicts, Poitier and Curtis, escape after a train wreck. They both hate eachother but since the two are handcuffed together, they must put their differences aside to survive. Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis are great in this film. Since most of the movie takes place outdoors, the two are always dirty and in grueling pain. Although some of the supporting characters are not as talented (often humorous due to their lack of acting skills), the film is well rounded and well told. The two learn to respect eachother and work ogether where they form a inevetable friendship. I found myself really rooting for the charters in the climax and up to it. This racially charged masterpiece by Stanley Kramer should be given a chance, and maybe even a spot on your DVD rack.

I watch this one and always think in my home country they should handcuff the so called opposite sides together and see what happens. Sidney Poitier whom my mother always talked about when I was a kid and insisted that I and my sibling watched his movies, is magnificent. He is such a charismatic, beautiful graceful man even when portraying a convict. I remember getting angry watching this because of the racism, hatred and ignorance it portrayed. Yet like all great Hollywood movies there is a real catharis at the end when the Curtis character will not betray his partner in chains, now his equal and friend. I am sure that when it was made in the late 50's/ this film was bold in its subject matter, yet today in most civilised societies thoughts of difference should never cross our minds, but I am sad to report it often does, so this great movie even though it is a (plot formulaic set piece) is still relevant today in it overall message.

This film was a challenging issue in its age . Nevertheless the racial prejuices and the involved circunstances around the ethical crossroads that surrounds the film are still present , fifty years ago.
Imagine what it means to get the freedom linked with a man you hate due his color . Curtis and Pottier make a glorious tour de force . Both of two are credible in this drama who join these two man initially divided for different conflicts but , (once more the mythical journey) convinces to each other one of them that they must to act as just one man if they want to survive , because they have a common enemy .
You know that Stanley Kramer was always a director that loved to make incisive and bitter films .
In this case he made a masterpiece around a simple story that it could happen again in any other region of the globe .
The remarkable point is this moral question somehow permeated the filmography of famous directors in the future , as Norman Jewison (In the heat of the night) , Mississippi burning (Alan Parker) or The green mile (Durabont) , to name three films of different decades .

'The Defiant Ones' is a classic film that deals with racism, survival and loyalty. Two prisoners, one black and one white are forced to work together to survive when a prison transport vehicle crashes. The two convicts who are chained together have to put their differences aside to stay ahead of the lawmen who want to put them back behind bars. Poitier and Curtis are in top form in this engrossing drama. Although a bit dated, the film holds up well and the DVD transfer in clean and crisp!