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
- TriviaRobert Mitchum turned down the role of John "Joker" Jackson (Tony Curtis' role). Mitchum, who claimed to have served on a Southern chain gang when he was 14, said that he didn't believe the premise that a Black man and a white man would be chained together, as such a thing would never happen in the very-strictly-segregated South. Over the years, this reason was corrupted to the point where many people believed Mitchum turned down the role because he didn't want to be chained to a Black man, an absolute falsehood. Curtis repeated the inaccurate story in his autobiography, but recanted after it was explained to him.
- 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
Two chained convicts tried to escape
I have seen this film several times and each time I am feeling that this is one of the best drama I've ever seen. There are new remakes of this film, but the original is the best. Acting of Sidney Poitier is without any doubt superb, while Tony Curtis did also his best. The director, Stanley Kramer, chose a very good and interesting plot, how two different persons can have better relationship and interests when they fight together for their lives. No matter if one is black and the other white, or no matter if one is atheist and the other Christian, at the end they will understand each other because their cause is only one and is the same, to become free.
helpful•307
- esteban1747
- Aug 15, 2002
- 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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