ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (Theatrical Release USA 1981)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.3|5.0 Stars ììì

Escape From New York—a film whose advertising built great anticipation—did not even come close to movies like Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark. The film needs pulse. However, it’s a treat to see Ernest Borgnine, Lee Van Cleef, and Donald Pleasance acting on screen.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The United States government has walled off parts of Manhattan to serve as an enlarged maximum security prison. Terrorists attempt to crash Air Force One with the United States President (Donald Pleasence) aboard. The President escapes the crash in an escape pod which lands inside the borders of the maximum security prison. Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) is hired to rescue the president.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director John Carpenter. Thank you to Producers Larry J. Franco and Debra Hill for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Hauk (Lee Van Cleef), Cabbie (Ernest Borgnine), The Duke (Isaac Hayes), Girl in Chock Full O’Nuts (Season Hubley), Brain (Harry Dean Stanton), Maggie (Adrienne Barbeau), Rehme (Tom Atkins), Secretary of State (Charles Cyphers), Taylor (Joe Unger), and Romero (Frank Doubleday).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It has its memorable scenes like a particularly strong wrestling match between Snake Plissken and the prisoner Slag (Ox Baker).

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers