The Defiant Ones

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The Defiant Ones
original film poster
Directed by	Stanley Kramer
Produced by	Stanley Kramer
Written by	Nedrick Young (story) Harold Jacob Smith
Starring	Tony Curtis Sidney Poitier Theodore Bikel Cara Williams
Cinematography	Sam Leavitt
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date(s)	July 1958 at Berlin International Film Festival
Running time	97 min
Language	English
IMDb profile

The Defiant Ones is a 1958 film which tells the story of two escaped prisoners who are shackled together, one white and one black, who must co-operate in order to survive. It stars Tony Curtis, Sidney Poitier, Theodore Bikel, Cara Williams, Charles McGraw and Lon Chaney Jr..

The movie was adapted by Harold Jacob Smith from the story by Nedrick Young (originally as Nathan E. Douglas). It was directed by Stanley Kramer.

It won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White and Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen, and was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Tony Curtis), Best Actor in a Leading Role (Sidney Poitier), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Theodore Bikel), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Cara Williams), Best Director, Best Film Editing and Best Picture.

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer, of the Our Gang comedies, has a small role. It was his last before his death.

As with many award winning films, The Defiant Ones too had its share of goofs. On at least 2 occasions (after the mud pit and river scenes) Tony Curtis is shown lighting up a cigarette after getting drenched. The cigarette appears intact and really dry! Near the end of the film after Jackson falls in the mud trying to catch up to Cullen there is thick mud all the way up his front over his shoulders. In the next shot his right shoulder is suddenly unmuddied.