In 1997, a major war between the United States and the Soviet Union is concluding, and the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a giant maximum security prison. When Air Force One is hijacked and crashes into the island, the president (Donald Pleasence) is taken hostage by a group of inmates. Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell), a former Special Forces soldier turned criminal, is recruited to retrieve the president in exchange for his own freedom.
Welcome to dystopian Manhattan in 1997, where only the savvy and savage survive. Escape from New York (1981) is one of those wonderful early Carpenter films with a certain je nais se quois (unlike many of his latter efforts). Join us as we discuss the film’s strengths and weaknesses, including the solid cast, crew, and cinematography. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys has 24 hours to infiltrate the maximum security prison of Manhattan, rescue the President of the United States, and avoid global annihilation!
SHOW NOTES:
- Escape from New York (1981)
- Original trailer
- John Carpenter
- Kurt Russell
- Lee Van Cleef
- Clint Eastwood
- The Terminator (1984)
- The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- Mad Max franchise
- Carl Reiner
- Breaking Bad (2008)
- Rick Grimes
- The Warriors (1979)
- The Evil Dead (1981)
- The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
- Cool Hand Luke (1967)
- Brubaker (1980)
- The Longest Yard (1974)
- Fortress (1992)
- Star Trek (Gamesters of Triskelion)
- Total Recall (1990)
- A Clockwork Orange (1971)
- Fantastic Voyage (1966)
- Night of the Living Dead (1968)
- Day of the Dead (1985)
- 28 Days Later (2002)
- True Grit (1969)
- Robin Hood
- The Thing (1982)
- Blade Runner (1982)
- Neuromancer by William Gibson
- Death Wish (1974)
- Big Jake (1971)
- Planet of the Damned by Harry Harrison
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