The Defiant Ones (1958)

Director: Stanley Kramer
Starring: Tony Curtis, Sidney Poitier, Theodore Bikel

Synopsis:
Two convicts chained together, one black and one white, escape in a car accident and go on the run, but their mutual animosity could lead to them killing each other before the police can catch them.

Impressions:
This really is an amazing character piece. Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier deliver fine performances. Curtis impressively breaks with the kind of roles he's generally known for and Poitier got his first Oscar nom out of the deal. It plays with the racial tensions of the day in interesting ways and it's a treat to watch the camaraderie form between two men who were ready to kill each other at the drop of a hat at the beginning of the movie. Theodore Bikel averts the common stereotypes of the Southern sheriff and Lon Chaney leaves a strong impression in his small role as Big Sam. Besides their acting, I also want to credit Curtis and Poitier for doing most of their own stunts, particularly the clay pit scene. This is a movie well worth seeing and I highly recommend it.

Rating:
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