Escape from Alcatraz is one of the grittier movies Clint Eastwood has starred in. It was the fifth and final collaboration between him and director Don Siegal.

There’s no Dirty Harry-style catchphrases here in this true(ish) story of allegedly the only convicts to ever escape from Alcatraz island. 

Its a fairly dour affair, as Clint and two accomplices meticulously plot and execute their escape. The real life escapees were never found, and it was presumed they drowned in the icy waters of San Franciso bay, but the movie leaves it open-ended as to whether they got away or not.

I’ve visited Alcatraz many years ago, and have been in the cell where Eastwood’s scenes were shot. (The production had to restore parts of the closed and decaying facility, years before it opened for tourist visits). It is hard to imagine anyone making it off the island, but you never know!

This is the UK quad poster which I had up on my wall for many years as a kid and sold last year, plus a French grande version.