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Is the movie Escape From Alcatraz (1979) based on a true story?

Olivia Thompson Olivia Thompson Oct 02, 2016 · 2 mins read
Is the movie Escape From Alcatraz (1979) based on a true story?
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Yes, the movie Escape From Alcatraz (1979) is based on a true story. It is the story of the only successful escape from the supposedly “escape-proof” Alcatraz prison in San Francisco Bay that occurred in 1962. However, the true fate of the escapees remains unknown, as they were never found and presumed to have drowned in the cold and treacherous waters of the bay.

What is the true story behind the movie Escape From Alcatraz (1979)?

The movie “Escape From Alcatraz” is based on a true story about three men named Frank Morris, Clarence Anglin, and John Anglin, who escaped from the maximum-security prison on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay on June 11, 1962.

Morris and the Anglin brothers had been serving time in Alcatraz prison for various crimes, and they had been planning their escape for months. They created an intricate plan involving making fake heads out of soap and paper mache, hiding their tunneling efforts behind a fake wall, and building a raft out of raincoats.

On the night of their escape, they put their plan into action and managed to get out of the prison undetected. They left their fake heads in their beds and made their way to the shores of the island, where they launched their raft.

Despite an extensive search by the Coast Guard and the FBI, the men were never found, and their fate remains a mystery. Some believe that they drowned in the frigid Bay waters, while others think they may have made it to shore and disappeared into the mainland.

The true story of the escape from Alcatraz has been the subject of much speculation and debate, and the 1979 movie is just one interpretation of what may have happened.

Are there any books about the true story behind the movie Escape From Alcatraz (1979)?

Yes, there are a few books about the true story behind the movie Escape From Alcatraz:

  1. Escape from Alcatraz: The True Crime Classic by J. Campbell Bruce
  2. Alcatraz: A Definitive History of the Penitentiary Years by Michael Esslinger
  3. Alcatraz Unchained: The Definitive Guide to the Rock by Doug Dorst and J.J. Abrams
  4. Escape from Alcatraz: The Mystery of the Three Men Who Escaped From The Rock by Eric Braun

These books provide more details and background information on the real-life events that inspired the film.

You can try an audible free trial and search for audiobook versions of those

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Olivia Thompson
Written by Olivia Thompson
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