Main Cast: Charles Bronson, Robert Duvall, Jill Ireland, John Huston, Randy Quaid, Sheree North
Release Year: 1975
Country: US
Run Time: 96 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
The star-director team of Charles Bronson and Tom Gries (Breakheart Pass) combine their efforts again on Breakout. Bronson plays Nick Colton, a reckless pilot who heads to an unnamed South American country, in hopes of rescuing imprisoned Jay Wagner (Robert Duvall). Villain Harris Wagner (John Huston), who has framed Jay, has an unlimited supply of henchmen at his disposal, but they're no match for the dauntless Colton. Jill Ireland, Bronson's real-life wife, costars as Duvall's missus. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
This Charles Bronson vehicle isn't one of the star's more demanding roles, but it's fairly entertaining nonetheless. Breakout is basically a B-movie with A-movie resources: the plot is old fashioned adventure stuff tarted up with a nice budget and some name acting talent like Robert Duvall and John Huston. The script is a bit wobbly -- the finale leaves some loose ends dangling and the film's caricatured treatment of its Mexican villains isn't likely to endear itself to the politically correct -- but it makes up for these flaws with plenty of action and some amusing characters. Bronson gives an energetic, surprisingly comedic performance as the film's hard luck hero and Randy Quaid and Sheree North add a welcome touch of color as his low-rent partners in crime. Duvall and Huston are rather wasted in their limited roles, but their presence lends some added class to the proceedings. Capping it all off is sturdy direction from Tom Gries -- he manages to gloss over the story's simplistic nature by attacking it with vigor and style, especially during the taut prison-break finale. His efforts are furthered nicely by rich, widescreen photography from Lucien Ballard and a rousing, Spanish-tinged score by Jerry Goldsmith. All in all, Breakout probably won't win Charles Bronson any new fans, but his existing fanbase will find it to be a fun if modest diversion. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide
Bill Thomas - Costume Designer, Ronald L. Schwary - First Assistant Director, Tom Gries - Director, Bud S. Isaacs - Editor, Jerry Goldsmith - Composer (Music Score), James Hulsey - Production Designer, Alfred Sweeney - Production Designer, Lucien Ballard - Cinematographer, Robert Chartoff - Producer, Irwin Winkler - Producer, Ronald L. Buck - Producer, Ira Bates - Set Designer, Augie Lohman - Special Effects, Al Overton, Jr. - Sound/Sound Designer, Elliott Baker - Screenwriter, Howard B. Kreitsek - Screenwriter, Marc Norman - Screenwriter, Eliot Asinof - Book Author, Norman Hinckle - Book Author, Warren Hinckle - Book Author, William Turner - Book Author
The character portrayed by John Huston frames the character portrayed by Robert Duvall. In order to keep him silent, Duvall is incarcerated in a Mexicanprison. In the actual event, Vasilios Basil Choulos flew a helicopter into the Mexican prison and broke a framed prisoner out. That prisoner had been framed and served 28 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.
Duvall's wife Ireland is unhappy at this turn of events and hires the Charles Bronson character (a pilot in Brownsville, Texas) to fly into the prison and rescue Duvall.
