The Defiant Ones (1958)

7.6Approved96 minDirector: Stanley Kramer

1958 film by Stanley Kramer

The Defiant Ones is a 1958 American drama film produced and directed by Stanley Kramer. The film was adapted by Harold Jacob Smith from the story by Nedrick Young, originally credited as Nathan E. Douglas. It stars Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier as two escaped prisoners, one white and one black, who are shackled together and who must co-operate in order to survive.

The Defiant Ones premiered on June 29, 1958, at the 8th Berlin International Film Festival, where Poitier won the Silver Bear for Best Actor. Upon its release in the U.S. on September 27, the film was highly regarded by film critics. It won Academy Awards for Cinematography (Black-and-White) and Original Screenplay and was nominated for seven others, including Best Picture and Best Actor for both Poitier and Curtis.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Defiant Ones about?
The Defiant Ones (1958) — When the truck that is transporting convicts has an accident on the road, the inmates John "Joker" Jackson and Noah Cullen that are chained to each other escape. They hate each other but they need to help each other to succeed in their intent of going north to jump in a train and
Is The Defiant Ones based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Defiant Ones scary?
Content rating: Approved. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.