Alcatraz Island in popular culture
Encyclopedia
Alcatraz Island
has appeared many times in popular culture. Its appeal as a film setting derives from its isolation and its history as a prison from which, officially, no prisoner ever successfully escaped.
One of the most well-known of Alcatraz's historic inmates was Robert Franklin Stroud, known as "The Birdman of Alcatraz". His biography was written by Thomas E. Gaddis
and then adapted into a film
in 1962, with Burt Lancaster
playing the lead role.
The 1995 film Murder in the First
depicts a man who spends three years in solitary confinement
at the prison.
Don Siegel
's 1979 thriller Escape from Alcatraz
chronicles the story of Frank Morris and brothers John
and Clarence Anglin
, who successfully escaped from Alcatraz in 1962, although it is unknown whether they survived the trip across the bay. There is some hint at the end of the film that they did survive. The film portrayed both the conditions of life in the prison and the difficulty of escaping from it.
Magician David Copperfield
used the fascination surrounding escapes from Alcatraz as the foundation for an illusion, when he escaped from an Alcatraz prison cell in a 1987 television special, The Magic of David Copperfield IX.
In The Jail Break, a 1946
short starring Mighty Mouse
, "Bad Bill Bunion" escapes from Alcatraz (which is also shown to be holding Frankenstein's monster
and Count Dracula
).
In the episode #20 (The Power of Two, 1999) of the 1st season
of the American television series Charmed
, the evil spirit of a serial killer
escapes from Alcatraz Island seeking revenge on his judge and jury. Phoebe
and Prue
must figure out how to vanquish this evil spirit and stop him from killing again without their sister Piper
, who's visiting on the island of Hawaii
.
In the episode 13th. of the 3rd. season of That 70's Show, Steven says that he and his friends are in Alcatraz when he realize that they can't escape from a restaurant.
The 1996 action film The Rock
with Sean Connery
, Nicolas Cage
and Ed Harris
takes place at Alcatraz Island with the theft
of dangerous missiles and the threatening of eradicate large parts of San Francisco.
video game was based on, but not directly referencing, some famous escapes from the prison facility. The video game, entitled Alcatraz: Prison Escape, was released worldwide on November 23, 2001. It was developed by Zombie Studios
and published by Activision Value
.
The island was also featured as a playable level on the 2002 video game, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
.
The storyline of the Ghostlight
game, Shadow Hearts: From The New World
, takes the player to Alcatraz in order to bust out Al Capone
, who was formerly a real-life prisoner of the island.
"Crysis 2
" protagonist, "Alcatraz" is named after the Island.
(1996), in which a group from the United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance
holds 81 tourists hostage, demanding monetary reparations. To defeat the hostage-takers, the Navy SEAL team enlist the help and knowledge of John Patrick Mason, the only inmate of Alcatraz who ever successfully escaped.
Terrorists also use Alcatraz as a hiding-place after taking the Mayor of San Francisco hostage in the 1976 film The Enforcer
.
.
Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island is an island located in the San Francisco Bay, offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. Often referred to as "The Rock" or simply "Traz", the small island was developed with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison, and a Federal...
has appeared many times in popular culture. Its appeal as a film setting derives from its isolation and its history as a prison from which, officially, no prisoner ever successfully escaped.
Prisoners
Most appearances of Alcatraz in popular culture are related to its former status as a federal prison. Both real life and fictional accounts of imprisonment on the island have been popular.One of the most well-known of Alcatraz's historic inmates was Robert Franklin Stroud, known as "The Birdman of Alcatraz". His biography was written by Thomas E. Gaddis
Thomas E. Gaddis
Thomas E. Gaddis was a United States author, most noted for his book about Robert Stroud, who was known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz". Gaddis was born in Denver, Colorado. He wrote many non-fiction books, mostly biographies...
and then adapted into a film
Birdman of Alcatraz (film)
Birdman of Alcatraz is a 1962 film starring Burt Lancaster and directed by John Frankenheimer. It is a fictionalized version of the life of Robert Stroud, a federal prison inmate known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz" because of his life with birds. In spite of the title, much of the action is set at...
in 1962, with Burt Lancaster
Burt Lancaster
Burton Stephen "Burt" Lancaster was an American film actor noted for his athletic physique and distinctive smile...
playing the lead role.
The 1995 film Murder in the First
Murder in the First
Murder in the First is a largely fictitious 1995 film, directed by Marc Rocco, about a petty criminal named Henri Young who is put on trial for murder in the first degree.-Plot:...
depicts a man who spends three years in solitary confinement
Solitary confinement
Solitary confinement is a special form of imprisonment in which a prisoner is isolated from any human contact, though often with the exception of members of prison staff. It is sometimes employed as a form of punishment beyond incarceration for a prisoner, and has been cited as an additional...
at the prison.
In film and television
Many films and television series have exploited Alcatraz Island's reputation as being a prison from which it was almost impossible to escape.Don Siegel
Don Siegel
Donald Siegel was an influential American film director and producer. His name variously appeared in the credits of his films as both Don Siegel and Donald Siegel.-Early life:...
's 1979 thriller Escape from Alcatraz
Escape from Alcatraz (film)
Escape from Alcatraz is a 1979 American thriller film, directed by Don Siegel and starring Clint Eastwood. It dramatizes possibly the only successful escape attempt from the maximum security prison on Alcatraz Island. The film co-stars Fred Ward, and also features Patrick McGoohan as the...
chronicles the story of Frank Morris and brothers John
John Anglin
John William Anglin was an American criminal who took part in the June 1962 Alcatraz escape and was never seen again.- Alcatraz :...
and Clarence Anglin
Clarence Anglin
Clarence Anglin was an American criminal who took part in the June 1962 Alcatraz escape and was never seen again.- Early life :...
, who successfully escaped from Alcatraz in 1962, although it is unknown whether they survived the trip across the bay. There is some hint at the end of the film that they did survive. The film portrayed both the conditions of life in the prison and the difficulty of escaping from it.
Magician David Copperfield
David Copperfield (illusionist)
David Copperfield is an Emmy Award-winning American illusionist, and was described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician in history. Copperfield's network specials have been nominated for 38 Emmy Awards and won a total of 21 Emmys...
used the fascination surrounding escapes from Alcatraz as the foundation for an illusion, when he escaped from an Alcatraz prison cell in a 1987 television special, The Magic of David Copperfield IX.
In The Jail Break, a 1946
1946 in film
The year 1946 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*November 21 - William Wyler's The Best Years of Our Lives premieres in New York featuring an ensemble cast including Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, and Harold Russell.*December 20 - Frank Capra's It's a...
short starring Mighty Mouse
Mighty Mouse
Mighty Mouse is an animated superhero mouse character created by the Terrytoons studio for 20th Century Fox.-History:The character was created by story man Izzy Klein as a super-powered housefly named Superfly. Studio head Paul Terry changed the character into a cartoon mouse instead...
, "Bad Bill Bunion" escapes from Alcatraz (which is also shown to be holding Frankenstein's monster
Frankenstein's monster
Frankenstein's monster is a fictional character that first appeared in Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. The creature is often erroneously referred to as "Frankenstein", but in the novel the creature has no name...
and Count Dracula
Count Dracula
Count Dracula is a fictional character, the titular antagonist of Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula and archetypal vampire. Some aspects of his character have been inspired by the 15th century Romanian general and Wallachian Prince Vlad III the Impaler...
).
In the episode #20 (The Power of Two, 1999) of the 1st season
Charmed (season 1)
The first season of Charmed, an American supernatural drama television series, created by Constance M. Burge, premiered on October 7, 1998 on The WB...
of the American television series Charmed
Charmed
Charmed is an American television series that originally aired from October 7, 1998, until May 21, 2006, on the now defunct The WB Television Network. The series was created in 1998 by writer Constance M...
, the evil spirit of a serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
escapes from Alcatraz Island seeking revenge on his judge and jury. Phoebe
Phoebe Halliwell
Phoebe Halliwell is a fictional character from the television series Charmed. One of the featured leads, Phoebe is introduced in the series as a witch and, more specifically, a Charmed One one of the most powerful witches of all time. The character was portrayed by Lori Rom in the unaired pilot,...
and Prue
Prue Halliwell
Prudence "Prue" Halliwell is a fictional character from the television series Charmed. Prue is depicted as one of the featured leads as she fulfills her role as a witch and, more specifically, a Charmed One one of the most powerful witches of all time...
must figure out how to vanquish this evil spirit and stop him from killing again without their sister Piper
Piper Halliwell
Piper Halliwell is a fictional character from the television series Charmed. One of the featured leads, Piper is introduced in the series as a witch and, more specifically, a Charmed One one of the most powerful witches of all time. The character was portrayed by Holly Marie Combs throughout the...
, who's visiting on the island of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
In the episode 13th. of the 3rd. season of That 70's Show, Steven says that he and his friends are in Alcatraz when he realize that they can't escape from a restaurant.
The 1996 action film The Rock
The Rock (film)
The Rock is a 1996 action film that primarily takes place on Alcatraz Island and in the San Francisco Bay area. It was directed by Michael Bay and stars Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage and Ed Harris. It was produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and released through Hollywood Pictures. The film...
with Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
, Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage is an American actor, producer and director, having appeared in over 60 films including Raising Arizona , The Rock , Face/Off , Gone in 60 Seconds , Adaptation , National Treasure , Ghost Rider , Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans , and...
and Ed Harris
Ed Harris
Edward Allen "Ed" Harris is an American actor, writer, and director, known for his performances in Appaloosa, Radio, The Rock, The Abyss, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, A History of Violence, and The Truman Show. Harris has also narrated commercials for The Home Depot and other companies...
takes place at Alcatraz Island with the theft
Theft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
of dangerous missiles and the threatening of eradicate large parts of San Francisco.
In video games
A computerComputer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
video game was based on, but not directly referencing, some famous escapes from the prison facility. The video game, entitled Alcatraz: Prison Escape, was released worldwide on November 23, 2001. It was developed by Zombie Studios
Zombie Studios
Zombie Studios is an American independent video game developer of console, PC, mobile and web-based games. It was formed in 1994 by Joanna Alexander and Mark Long, formerly of the Sarnoff Research Center. Alexander and Long founded Zombie after they completed the design of a virtual reality game...
and published by Activision Value
Activision Value
Activision Value Publishing, Inc. is an American computer and video game company, a merger of Activision, Expert Software and Head Games Publishing....
.
The island was also featured as a playable level on the 2002 video game, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
-External links:* on the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine...
.
The storyline of the Ghostlight
Ghostlight
Ghostlight is a multiplatform video game publisher based in the UK, it was established as a subsidiary of Midas Interactive during 2004.-Published games:*The Plan*Shin Megami Tensei: Lucifer's Call*Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga...
game, Shadow Hearts: From The New World
Shadow Hearts: From The New World
is a console role-playing game developed by Nautilus and published by XSEED Games in 2005. It is the third official game in the Shadow Hearts series....
, takes the player to Alcatraz in order to bust out Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
, who was formerly a real-life prisoner of the island.
"Crysis 2
Crysis 2
Crysis 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Crytek, published by Electronic Arts and released in North America, Australia, and Europe in March 2011 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360...
" protagonist, "Alcatraz" is named after the Island.
Hostages
Alcatraz's isolated and fortified image has meant that it has been used as a location for fictional hostage scenarios in various instances. The most successful of such films was The RockThe Rock (film)
The Rock is a 1996 action film that primarily takes place on Alcatraz Island and in the San Francisco Bay area. It was directed by Michael Bay and stars Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage and Ed Harris. It was produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and released through Hollywood Pictures. The film...
(1996), in which a group from the United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance
United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance
The Force Reconnaissance Companies , are one of the United States Marine Corps's special operations "capable" forces that provide essential elements of military intelligence to the command element of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force ; supporting the landing or joint task force commanders, and...
holds 81 tourists hostage, demanding monetary reparations. To defeat the hostage-takers, the Navy SEAL team enlist the help and knowledge of John Patrick Mason, the only inmate of Alcatraz who ever successfully escaped.
Terrorists also use Alcatraz as a hiding-place after taking the Mayor of San Francisco hostage in the 1976 film The Enforcer
The Enforcer (1976 film)
The Enforcer is a 1976 American film, and the third in the Dirty Harry film series. Directed by James Fargo, it stars Clint Eastwood as Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan, Tyne Daly as Inspector Kate Moore and DeVeren Bookwalter as terrorist leader/main antagonist Bobby Maxwell.-Plot:In Marin County,...
.
Film and television
- Ghost HuntersGhost HuntersGhost Hunters is an American paranormal reality television series that premiered on October 6, 2004, on Syfy . The program features paranormal investigators Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson who investigate places that are reported to be haunted. The two originally worked as plumbers for Roto-Rooter as...
100th episode; season 6 episode 1 - Alcatraz paranormalParanormalParanormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
investigation (March 3, 2010), a 2 hrs premiere special. - MythBustersMythBustersMythBusters is a science entertainment TV program created and produced by Beyond Television Productions for the Discovery Channel. The series is screened by numerous international broadcasters, including Discovery Channel Australia, Discovery Channel Latin America, Discovery Channel Canada, Quest...
Alcatraz Escape (December 12, 2003) Discovery Channel - King of AlcatrazKing of AlcatrazKing of Alcatraz is a 1938 drama film directed by Robert Florey and starring Gail Patrick.-Cast:* Gail Patrick - Dale Borden* Lloyd Nolan - Raymond Grayson* Harry Carey - Captain Glennan* J...
- So I Married An Axe MurdererSo I Married an Axe MurdererSo I Married an Axe Murderer is a 1993 American comedy-horror film starring Mike Myers and Nancy Travis. Myers plays Charlie McKenzie, a man afraid of commitment until he meets Harriet , who works at a butcher shop and may be a serial killer...
- Escape from AlcatrazEscape from Alcatraz (film)Escape from Alcatraz is a 1979 American thriller film, directed by Don Siegel and starring Clint Eastwood. It dramatizes possibly the only successful escape attempt from the maximum security prison on Alcatraz Island. The film co-stars Fred Ward, and also features Patrick McGoohan as the...
- Birdman of AlcatrazBirdman of Alcatraz (film)Birdman of Alcatraz is a 1962 film starring Burt Lancaster and directed by John Frankenheimer. It is a fictionalized version of the life of Robert Stroud, a federal prison inmate known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz" because of his life with birds. In spite of the title, much of the action is set at...
- Murder in the FirstMurder in the FirstMurder in the First is a largely fictitious 1995 film, directed by Marc Rocco, about a petty criminal named Henri Young who is put on trial for murder in the first degree.-Plot:...
(1995) fictionalized drama film. - The RockThe Rock (film)The Rock is a 1996 action film that primarily takes place on Alcatraz Island and in the San Francisco Bay area. It was directed by Michael Bay and stars Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage and Ed Harris. It was produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and released through Hollywood Pictures. The film...
(1996) action film. - Half Past DeadHalf Past DeadHalf Past Dead is a 2002 action movie in which a criminal infiltrates a prison to interrogate a prisoner about the location of a fortune in gold while an undercover FBI agent has to stop him. The film stars Steven Seagal, Morris Chestnut, Ja Rule, Nia Peeples, Kurupt, and Claudia Christian...
(2002) action movie starring Steven Seagal. - Point Blank (1967). This was the first major motion picture to be filmed on location at Alcatraz Island after the closure of the Federal prison in 1963.
- CharmedCharmedCharmed is an American television series that originally aired from October 7, 1998, until May 21, 2006, on the now defunct The WB Television Network. The series was created in 1998 by writer Constance M...
. Episode "The Power of Two" 1x20. Prudence HalliwellPrue HalliwellPrudence "Prue" Halliwell is a fictional character from the television series Charmed. Prue is depicted as one of the featured leads as she fulfills her role as a witch and, more specifically, a Charmed One one of the most powerful witches of all time...
and her sister Phoebe HalliwellPhoebe HalliwellPhoebe Halliwell is a fictional character from the television series Charmed. One of the featured leads, Phoebe is introduced in the series as a witch and, more specifically, a Charmed One one of the most powerful witches of all time. The character was portrayed by Lori Rom in the unaired pilot,...
vanquish the ghost from a murderer that was enjailed in the Alcatraz prison. - X-Men: The Last StandX-Men: The Last StandX-Men: The Last Stand is a 2006 superhero film and the third in the X-Men series. It was directed by Brett Ratner and stars an ensemble cast including Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, Kelsey Grammer, Anna Paquin, Shawn Ashmore, Aaron Stanford, Vinnie Jones,...
features Alcatraz as the development center for a "cure" for mutantsMutant (Marvel Comics)In comic books published by Marvel Comics, a mutant is an organism who possesses a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows the mutant to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities...
. - The EnforcerThe Enforcer (1976 film)The Enforcer is a 1976 American film, and the third in the Dirty Harry film series. Directed by James Fargo, it stars Clint Eastwood as Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan, Tyne Daly as Inspector Kate Moore and DeVeren Bookwalter as terrorist leader/main antagonist Bobby Maxwell.-Plot:In Marin County,...
The third Dirty HarryDirty HarryDirty Harry is a 1971 American crime thriller produced and directed by Don Siegel, the first in the Dirty Harry series. Clint Eastwood plays the title role, in his first outing as San Francisco Police Department Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan....
movie climaxes with a shoot-out on Alcatraz. - On The OthersidersThe OthersidersThe Othersiders is an American paranormal reality television series that premiered on June 17, 2009 on the Cartoon Network. The program follows a group of five teenagers who are interested in the paranormal and explore reportedly haunted sites to discover any paranormal activity. Aimed for a teen...
series series finale, they investigated the Alcatraz Prison - Are We Done Yet?Are We Done Yet?Are We Done Yet? is a 2007 family comedy film starring Ice Cube. The film is both a remake of the classic Cary Grant comedy Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House and a sequel to 2005's comedy Are We There Yet? The film was directed by Steve Carr from a screenplay by Hank Nelken...
Ice Cube says "Welcome to Alcatraz". - The Book of EliThe Book of EliThe Book of Eli is a 2010 American post-apocalyptic action film directed by the Hughes brothers, written by Gary Whitta, and starring Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Ray Stevenson and Jennifer Beals....
(2010) post-apocalyptic film. - Avatar: The Last AirbenderAvatar: The Last AirbenderAvatar: The Last Airbender is an American animated television series that aired for three seasons on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008. The series was created and produced by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, who served as executive producers along with Aaron Ehasz...
Season 3 Book of Fire, the prison known as the "Boiling Rock" is based loosely on Alcatraz Prison. - Discovery ChannelDiscovery ChannelDiscovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
's paranormal show, Ghost LabGhost LabGhost Lab is a weekly American paranormal documentary television series that premiered on October 6, 2009 on the Discovery Channel. Produced by Paper Route Productions and Go Go Luckey Entertainment, the program is narrated by Mike Rowe...
did an investigation of the prison. - In the ending scene of the episode "Enemy at the Gate" of Stargate AtlantisStargate AtlantisStargate Atlantis is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate franchise. The show was created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper as a spin-off series of Stargate SG-1, which was created by Wright and Jonathan Glassner and was itself...
Alcatraz is shown in the background behind the Golden Gate BridgeGolden Gate BridgeThe Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to... - Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty GaloreCats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty GaloreCats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore is a 2010 family action comedy film directed by Brad Peyton. The film stars Chris O'Donnell and Jack McBrayer. The film also stars the voices of James Marsden, Nick Nolte, Christina Applegate, Katt Williams, Bette Midler, and Neil Patrick Harris...
(2010) Mr Tinkles was locked up in a hidden prison on Alcatraz Island. - The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
episodeEpisodeAn episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...
"Bart-Mangled BannerBart-Mangled Banner"Bart-Mangled Banner" is the twenty-first episode from The Simpsons fifteenth season. It aired on May 16, 2004 on FOX.-Plot:Homer and Marge take the kids to get their shots. Just before Dr. Hibbert is about to inject Bart, he escapes. After a chase through town, Hibbert finally outsmarts Bart and...
": After the Simpsons get ostracized due to a misunderstanding, they get arrested and locked up in Alcatraz, along with people like Michael MooreMichael MooreMichael Francis Moore is an American filmmaker, author, social critic and activist. He is the director and producer of Fahrenheit 9/11, which is the highest-grossing documentary of all time. His films Bowling for Columbine and Sicko also place in the top ten highest-grossing documentaries...
and Bill ClintonBill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. - Producers J.J. Abrams and Elizabeth SarnoffElizabeth SarnoffElizabeth "Liz" Sarnoff is an American television writer and producer. She has written episodes of NYPD Blue, Crossing Jordan, Deadwood and Lost.-Career:...
are developing a pilot called AlcatrazAlcatraz (TV series)Alcatraz is an upcoming American television series filmed in Vancouver, BC, starring Sarah Jones and Jorge Garcia. Bad Robot Productions produced the pilot episode, which is based on a screenplay by Elizabeth Sarnoff, Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt. The series was officially picked up by Fox on...
for FoxFoxFox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
, starring Sam NeillSam NeillNigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill, DCNZM, OBE is a New Zealand actor. He is well known for his starring role as paleontologist Dr Alan Grant in Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III....
, Jorge GarciaJorge GarciaJorge García is a U.S. actor and comedian. He first came to public attention with his performance as Hector Lopez on the television show Becker and later for his portrayal of Hugo "Hurley" Reyes in the television series Lost. Garcia also performs as a stand-up comedian.-Early life:García was born...
, Parminder Nagra and Sarah Jones. - Popeye the sailor man episodeEpisodeAn episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...
private eye popeye Pluto is punched to Alcatraz Island. - AlcatrazAlcatraz (TV series)Alcatraz is an upcoming American television series filmed in Vancouver, BC, starring Sarah Jones and Jorge Garcia. Bad Robot Productions produced the pilot episode, which is based on a screenplay by Elizabeth Sarnoff, Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt. The series was officially picked up by Fox on...
, a 2012 TV series on FoxFox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
. - Travel ChannelTravel ChannelThe Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
s "Ghost AdventuresGhost AdventuresGhost Adventures is a weekly American paranormal television series that premiered on October 17, 2008 on the Travel Channel. Currently produced by MY-Tupelo Entertainment , the program follows and stars ghost hunters Zak Bagans, Nick Groff, and Aaron Goodwin, as they investigate locations that are...
" filmed an episode of paranormal ongoing's at Alcatraz. - The Fairly OddParentsThe Fairly OddParentsThe Fairly OddParents is an American-Canadian animated television series created by Butch Hartman about the adventures of Timmy Turner, who is granted fairy godparents named Cosmo and Wanda. The series started out as cartoon segments that ran from September 4, 1998 to March 23, 2001 on Oh Yeah!...
features a prison in Fairy World called Abracatraz, based off of Alcatraz.
Books and comic books
- Al Capone Does My ShirtsAl Capone Does My ShirtsAl Capone Does My Shirts is a 2004 young adult novel written by Southern California-based author Gennifer Choldenko. The book was named as a Newbery Honor selection and in 2007 it received the California Young Reader Medal.-Plot summary:...
, a novel about a boy and his autisticAutismAutism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
sister living on Alcatraz Island - Al Capone Shines My Shoes, a novel about a boy and his autistic sister living on Alcatraz Island. Same author as Al Capone Does My Shirts.
- In the first four Percy Jackson books, a Labyrinth entrance is located in one of the cells on Alcatraz Island and the worst nightmare of the Cyclopes, KampeCampeIn Greek mythology, Campe or Kampê is the name of a chthonic female monster .-Mythology:Campe was a dragon with a woman's head and torso and a scorpion-like tail. Nonnus, in Dionysiaca gives the most elaborated description of her...
is a prison guard at Alcatraz. - In Michael ScottMichael Scott (Irish author)Michael Scott is an Irish author.Michael Scott is a seasoned and prolific writer of over 100 books during his 25 plus years of writing thus far...
's the Magician, Perenelle Flamel is held prisoner on Alcatraz Island - in Baccano!Baccano!is a Japanese light novel series written by Ryohgo Narita and illustrated by Katsumi Enami. The series, often told from multiple points of view, is mostly set within a fictional United States during various time periods, most notably the Prohibition-era. It focuses on various people, including...
, the hitman Ladd Russo is imprisoned in 1932 and subsequently transferred to Alcatraz in 1934. The story arc 'Alice in Jails' focuses on this and other inmates of alcatraz prison. - Alcatraz: The True End of the Line, an autobiography by former inmate Darwin Coon
- Escape from Alcatraz (1963) by J. Campbell Bruce
- in the Harry PotterHarry PotterHarry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
series, Azkaban bears many resemblances to Alcatraz - In "The Rock and a Hard Place", Jim Duggins describes his experiences working on Alcatraz as commissary clerk. His essay appears in the anthology, Love, Castro Street: Reflections of San Francisco, edited by Katherine V. Forrest and Jim Van Buskirk (Alyson Books, 2007).
- In One PieceOne Pieceis a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since August 4, 1997; the individual chapters are being published in tankōbon volumes by Shueisha, with the first released on December 24, 1997, and the 64th volume released as...
, the great underwater prison Impel Down bears many similarities to Alcatraz, including a long history of no escapees or break-ins until Monkey D. Luffy breaks in to save his brother Portgas D. Ace, releasing all the other prisoners in the process. - In an issue of Psi-ForcePsi-ForcePsi-Force was a thirty-two-issue comic book series published by Marvel Comics under their New Universe imprint from 1986 to 1989. Along with D.P...
, the group takes a sightseeing tour to Alcatraz and wind up getting attacked and temporarily imprisoned there.
Games
- The computer platforming game Alcatraz involves US Navy SEALS rescuing hostages from a terrorist-occupied Alcatraz. The game is also known as Hostages.
- There is a game about the prison called Alcatraz: Prison EscapeAlcatraz: Prison EscapeAlcatraz: Prison Escape is a first-person survival video game with action elements. It was developed by Zombie Studios and was published by Activision Value. The game was released worldwide on November 23, 2001 exclusively for the Microsoft Windows platform.-See also:*Activision *Zombie...
. - Alcatraz is a playable level in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4-External links:* on the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine...
and has many features of the real Alcatraz. - There are two chapters (five levels) that take place in Alcatraz in HulkHulk (video game)Hulk is a video game based on the 2003 movie of the same name. It was developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Games. A signature feature has Eric Bana reprises his role of Bruce Banner...
. - In the video game Shadow Hearts: From the New WorldShadow Hearts: From The New Worldis a console role-playing game developed by Nautilus and published by XSEED Games in 2005. It is the third official game in the Shadow Hearts series....
, the party travels to Alcatraz to save Al CaponeAl CaponeAlphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
. - In the video game San Francisco Rush: The Rock, Alcatraz is the main setting. Players race cars on, above, and through the prison and the island.
- The video game Urban Strike features Alcatraz as one of the secret bases of main antagonist H. R. Malone.
- In the game Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3, several hostages must be rescued from Alcatraz Prison.
- The game RuneScapeRuneScapeRuneScape is a fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game released in January 2001 by Andrew and Paul Gower, and developed and published by Jagex Games Studio. It is a graphical browser game implemented on the client-side in Java, and incorporates 3D rendering...
sends the player to an "escape-proof" island known as The Rock. - In the video game World of WarcraftWorld of WarcraftWorld of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
, one of the dungeons is named Arcatraz, and is an intergalactic prison, named after Alcatraz. - World of Warcraft has an island off the coast of Dustwallow Marsh named 'Alcaz Island'. This houses an abandoned internment camp.
- In Destroy all Humans 2 in the first location there is a section called The Rock.
- In the simulation game SimCity 3000SimCity 3000SimCity 3000 is a city building simulation personal computer game and the third major installment in the SimCity series. It was published by Electronic Arts and developed by series creator Maxis, a wholly owned subsidiary of EA...
, players can build Alcatraz Complex as their city's landmark. - Manhunter 2: San FranciscoManhunter 2: San Francisco-External links:* Game Information & Screenshots* *...
from Sierra On-Line (19891989 in video gaming-Notable releases:* October 3, Brøderbund releases the Prince of Persia game, the first in a series of games, noted for its advancements in animation....
) was set in San Francisco, and featured a visit to alienExtraterrestrial lifeExtraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
-occupied Alcatraz. - In the RTS video game Command & Conquer: Yuri's RevengeCommand & Conquer: Yuri's RevengeIn Command and Conquer: Yuri's Revenge, the true story starts off assuming the Allies won in Red Alert 2. The plot is based around Yuri, the former head of the Soviet Psychic Corps, coming out of hiding to take over the world by using his Psychic Dominators...
, Alcatraz is featured in the introduction video setting up for its single-player campaign. Yuri, the villain in the game, secretly established one of his "psychic dominators" and power plants on the island as part of his global mind-controlling device network. - In the video game Crysis 2Crysis 2Crysis 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Crytek, published by Electronic Arts and released in North America, Australia, and Europe in March 2011 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360...
, the protagonist goes by the code name Alcatraz. - The game RollerCoaster Tycoon 2RollerCoaster Tycoon 2RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 is a construction and management simulation computer game that simulates theme park management. Developed by Chris Sawyer and published by Infogrames, the game was released on October 15, 2002. It is the sequel to RollerCoaster Tycoon and is the second game in the...
has an scenario setting on the island, some time after the prison was closed down and abandoned. - In HomefrontHomefront (video game)Homefront is a first-person shooter video game developed by now defunct Kaos Studios and published by THQ, in which players play as members of a resistance movement fighting against a near-future Korean military occupation of the United States. The story was written by John Milius, who co-wrote...
, during the mission on the Golden Gate Bridge, it is mentioned that the US Army has taken control of Alcatraz. It can also be seen in the distance.
.
Music
- June Carter CashJune Carter CashValerie June Carter Cash was an American singer, dancer, songwriter, actress, comedienne and author who was a member of the Carter Family and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash...
performed a song called Alcatraz. - In 2005 Kubb released the album Mother, which features a song called Alcatraz.
- In the song Bullet in the HeadBullet in the Head (song)"Bullet in the Head" was a single released by political rap metal band Rage Against the Machine from their debut album in 1992. A fan favourite and one of the album's heaviest tracks, "Bullet in the Head" refers to the band's belief that the government uses media to control the population, drawing...
, by Rage Against The MachineRage Against the MachineRage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
, a lyric goes "every home was like Alcatraz" - Christian rockChristian rockChristian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band Capital LightsCapital LightsCapital Lights was a pop rock band that was formed in 2002. The band released one full-length album and several EPs. On Christmas Eve 2010, Bryson Phillips appeared on RadioU's morning show, The R!OT...
has a song called "Frank Morris" which tells the story of the escape attempt from the point of view of the prisoners. - The 1993 album The New Jim JonesThe New Jim JonesThe New Jim Jones is the debut album by rapper Dre Dog. It was released on June 17, 1993 for independent record label, In-a-Minute Records and was produced by Dre Dog and T.C...
by Andre NickatinaAndre NickatinaAndre L. Adams , better known by his stage name Andre Nickatina, is an American rapper from San Francisco, California. He previously performed under the stage name Dre Dog.-Musical career:...
has a song called "Alcatraz", in which the lyrics go "Frisco, the home of Alcatraz" - Rapper San QuinnSan QuinnQuincy Brooks IV better known by his stage name San Quinn, is an American rapper from San Francisco, California.-Career:Born in Oakland, California, Quincy moved to the Fillmore district of San Francisco at the age of three...
released an album in 2006, entitled The Rock: Pressure Makes DiamondsThe Rock: Pressure Makes DiamondsThe Rock: Pressure Makes Diamonds is the sixth studio album by American rapper San Quinn. The single "Hell Yeah!" featuring Allen Anthony and E-A-Ski received considerable radio play, and a video was also shot for the song.-Track listing:... - In 2007 the American Deathmetal Band Dying Fetus recorded the videoclip for the song "Homicidal retribution" in Alcatraz
- In a song from the musical The Addams FamilyThe Addams Family (musical)The Addams Family is a musical comedy with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. The show is based upon The Addams Family characters created by Charles Addams in his single-panel gag cartoons, which depict a ghoulish American family with an affinity for...
, GomezGomez AddamsGomez Addams is the fictional patriarch of The Addams Family, created by cartoonist Charles Addams for The New Yorker magazine in the 1930s....
and Morticia AddamsMorticia AddamsMorticia A. Addams is the fictional matriarch of "The Addams Family", created by cartoonist Charles Addams and based on his first wife Barbara .Morticia is the wife of Gomez Addams and mother of Wednesday Addams and Pugsley Addams...
mention that they took a week long trip to Alcatraz. - Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record features a song called "Birdman of Alcatraz"
- TrainTrain (band)Train is an American pop rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1994. The band currently comprises a core trio of Patrick Monahan , Jimmy Stafford and Scott Underwood ....
have a song called Save Me San Francisco which mentions Alcatraz. - The Strawberry Alarm Clock performed The Birdman of Alkatrash in 1967.
- The heavy metal group Alcatrazz featured Yngwie Malmsteen.
- Norteño band Los Tigres Del NorteLos Tigres del NorteLos Tigres del Norte is a norteño-band ensemble based out of San Jose, California, hailing from Rosa Morada, Sinaloa, Mexico.- History :...
filmed the music video of Jefe De Jefes at the Alcatraz prison.