The Defiant Ones (1958)

Great classic!

I saw this movie when I was a teenager long ago. It's great. It addresses the awful truth of racism, and shows how that shallow viewpoint can be turned around. Great performances by Sidney Poiter and Tony Curtis, how can you possibly go wrong with either one of those two, right?! Great song, too, that will get stuck in your head forever. Loooong gone....ain't he lucky....:o) August 30, 2008

CLASSIC FILM STILL HOLDS UP WELL! 4 1/2 STARS!

'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! August 29, 2008

The Defiant Ones--no wonder it was nominated for all those Oscars.

Although minimal by today's Hollywood standards, this drama stimulates discussion on many levels. Some of it is obviously dated, but it is worthwhile seeing from the standpoint of cinematic storytelling, basic cinematic technique, and basic dramatic performances without excessive explosions, graphic sex or verbal profanity. Highly recommended for the movie enthusiasist. January 28, 2008

The Defiant Ones

ESSENTIAL MOVIE!!! Here's another great "prison" movie from Hollywood. This one stars Tony Curtis & Sidney Poitier. They are chained together when they make their escape. It's not as simple as it sounds; the movie takes place at an unspecified location in the southern U.S. in the late fifties. This was a very unususl situation, the chaining of white & black together in that period. Of course, the Tony Curtis character is a bigot which makes the escape & survival of the two convicts a very complicated thing.

Sidney Poitier is excellent, he should be recognized as one of America's greatest actors. Mr. Poitier must be given credit for breaking down some of the walls that hindered black actors in those days. Tony Curtis, though not the greatest of actors, does a very credible job in his role, Bronx accent not withstanding. In fact, the characters are so well constructed that the audience feels empathy toward them. Director Stanley Kramer has done one of his best jobs ever. This was a very risky movie to be making in 1958; but the control of the huge movie studios were slipping, and in fact, this was an independent production, which is why this movie got made in that day.

Enjoy a movie that was ahead of its time in 1958. It's not only a good movie, it's also an historically important movie. December 24, 2007

The Defiant Ones

All of Sidney's early movies are great. Tony Curtis did a marvels job, too. Recommended for everyone. November 12, 2007

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