Breakout

Fuga suicida

1975 · United States · 94 min

Director: Tom Gries
Screenplay: Eliot Asinof, Elliott Baker
Producer: Robert Chartoff, Irwin Winkler
Music: Jerry Goldsmith
Cinematography: Lucien Ballard
Production company: Columbia Pictures

What the critics say

62 % Rotten Tomatoes positive reviews44 Metacritic /100

Cast

What it is about

Jay Wagner ends up in a Mexican prison after being framed for a murder that his grandfather, a businessman with shady dealings, would rather see him silenced for than killed. His wife Ann hires Nick Colton, a Texas bush pilot from Brownsville, to try to get him out. Meanwhile, a CIA operative sets out to track them down.

How it was made

The film loosely draws on a real 1971 prison escape in Mexico involving an American businessman. Michael Ritchie, the original director, objected to Jill Ireland, Charles Bronson's wife, playing Ann, and Tom Gries took over. The prison scenes were shot at Fort de Bellegarde in France, with local Romani people standing in for many of the Mexican characters. Jerry Goldsmith composed the score and Lucien Ballard shot the film.

Reception and legacy

The film is often noted for giving Bronson a lighter, more comedic role than his usual serious parts. Producer Irwin Winkler was not a great admirer of the finished picture. Today it is of interest mainly as a mid-1970s action and suspense film based on a real incident.