MovieChat Forums > Escape from Alcatraz (1979) Discussion > Questions about Frank and the brothers?

Questions about Frank and the brothers?

posted 11 years ago by msladysoul
3 replies | jump to latest

Questions I have?

Did any of the three escapees have children or family that ever talked or still alive? Have they ever be questioned or watched to see if Morris or the brothers got in touch with them?

If Frank Morris was so smart, to have an high IQ and to escape Alcatraz, why did he chose a life as a criminal? He could have truly been someone important and successful.

How could the officers not be aware of the noise and movements that Morris and Anglin Brothers were making to escape?

Did the real Butts, ever say what Morris and the Anglin Brothers were really like?

Was the real warden ever questioned about his behavior and how he treated the inmates and how he felt about Morris and Anglin Brothers?

Was it true about the guy cutting off his hand?

In that scene where Morris steals an instrument? Why didn't the officer be smart enough to check both Morris and Butts instrument boxes?

Personally, I don't think they survived. Those three were professional criminals, I can't believe they would have led a normal life, I'm pretty sure had they lived they would have got in trouble again and sent to another prison.

Any of you ever seen I Am A Fugitive a From A Chain Gang ? How does it compare to this movie?

[–] oregon-5 11 years ago

I'm goinig to assume that all three were single, but I believe they were still close their families. Since a homemade wallet contaning photos was found on shore after the escape.

Even though Morris had a high IQ. If he didn't feel like conforming to society, them I suppose a life of crime was to be expected.

Even though only 4 of the inmates were planning to escape. All the other inmantes knew abnout it and helped out anyway they could. What is not mentioned in this film, is that they put up blankets on the top of the cell towers.
This gave them cover to help build the rafts and break into the air shaft.

The real Butts, Alan West, helped with the ionvestigation after the escape. I don;t know if he ever gave his impressions of what Frank & the Anglins were like.

The warden in the film is fictional. Although Alcatraz was supposed to be this super max prison with no priveleges. By 1962, most of those rules were relaxed and inmates had more of a normal routine while in prison.

"Doc" in the movie, I'm assuming is a composite character. He only chopped his fingers off in protest of lsoing hi painting priveleges.

You have to remember that this film is 'based on a true story' However, most of what occured in the film was created to make a better film.

[–] msladysoul 11 years ago

Was it ever said that their families were interviewed to see if Frank or the brothers would get in touch with them or ever got in touch with them? Were the family kept a close eye on over the years? Where is the family now or the ones who are still living?

[–] jb1002 11 years ago

I think Doc was loosely based on Robert Stroud, the bird man.