"Escape From Alcatraz" — A Classic Comes to Cerrito Theater

On Sunday at 7:30 a.m., about 2,000 competitors splashed from Alcatraz Island into the frigid waters of San Francisco Bay, competing in the "Escape from Alcatraz" triathlon.  They would swim one-and-a-half miles to San Francisco, then bike 14 miles, followed by a grueling eight-mile run.  The men's winner, 34-year-old Andy Potts, finished in just under two hours; the women's winner, 28-year-old Nicky Samuels from New Zealand, took two hours and thirteen minutes.

Of course, the triathlon was inspired by the famous 1979 movie, , starring Clint Eastwood.  The movie shows the real-life story of three desperate criminals who attempted possibly the only successful escape from "The Rock," the ultimate prison fortress.  Clint Eastwood portrays life prisoner Frank Morris, who  in 1962, along with two other lifers, brothers John and Clarence Anglin, used incredible daring and ingenuity to attempt escape from the prison housing the most dangerous criminals in America.

Alcatraz was closed as a prison a year after the escape attempt.

Probably the most realistic prison-break film ever made, directed by Don Siegel, who went on to direct Eastwood as Dirty Harry, the movie also features Patrick McGoohan as the vindictive warden, as well as, the film debut of Danny Glover.

Serendipitously, Escape from Alcatraz will be shown this Thursday, June 9, at 6:30 p.m. at the Cerrito Theater, 10700 San Pablo Ave., for one showing only. It's part of the Cerrito Classics series, a monthly program co-sponsored by the Friends of the Cerrito Theater. All seats are $8.00, and you are encouraged to come early and enjoy freshly-prepared food, along with beer or wine while watching the movie.