The Defiant Ones
The Defiant Ones is a
1958 film which tells about two escaped prisoners who are shackled together, one white and one black, who must co-operate in order to survive. It stars
Tony Curtis,
Sidney Poitier,
Theodore Bikel,
Cara Williams,
Charles McGraw and
Lon Chaney Jr..
The movie was adapted by
Harold Jacob Smith from the story by
Nedrick Young (originally as Nathan E. Douglas). It was directed by
Stanley Kramer.
It won
Academy Awards for
Best Cinematography, Black-and-White and
Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen, and was nominated for
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Tony Curtis),
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Sidney Poitier),
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Theodore Bikel),
Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Cara Williams),
Best Director,
Best Film Editing and
Best Picture.
Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer, of the
Our Gang comedies, has a small role. It was his last before his death.
As with many award winning films,
The Defiant Ones too had its share of goofs. On at least 2 occasions (after the mud pit and river scenes) Tony Curtis is shown lighting up a cigarette after getting drenched. The cigarette appears intact and really dry!
The Defiant Ones was remade several times:
*In
1972, with gender reversal, as
Black Mama, White Mama, starring
Pam Grier and
Margaret Markov.
*For
television in
1986, as
The Defiant Ones, starring
Robert Urich and
Carl Weathers.
*In
1996, as
Fled, starring
Laurence Fishburne and
Stephen Baldwin.
*
Android Apocalypse (2006) (TV)
*
IMDb
