The Defiant Ones

Released Sep 27, 1958

1 hr. 37 min.

Drama

List

91%

58 Reviews

Tomatometer

88%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In 1950s America, members of a chain gang are being transported through the South when their truck crashes. Two of the convicts, John "Joker" Jackson (Tony Curtis) and Noah Cullen (Sidney Poitier), who are chained together, find an opportunity to escape. Jackson is white, Cullen is black and, at first, the men appear to be opposites in every way. But as they flee across the country, the two form a deep bond. A female landowner leads Jackson to make a difficult decision about his own freedom.

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Critics Consensus

An advocacy drama that makes its points without belaboring them, The Defiant Ones relies on its clever concept and brilliant performances to repudiate racial prejudice.

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Leaburn O

Picks up in the second half with a decent ending. Shame the first half was awash with so much forced moralising. Some of the characters were cartoonish but there's enough in the plot to keep it just on tracks. Watched on Amazon Prime

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

Full Review

Georgan G

Really, really great acting makes this movie work. Poitier and Curtis kept my interest from start to finish. Clever plot with the main theme of interracial relationships.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/14/23

Full Review

Nizar N

Rarely do you find a movie that focuses on the social aspect that much while also having an entertaining plot and suspense. Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis give moving performances, in addition to Stanley Kramer's magic. The Defiant Ones is a masterpiece.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The Defiant Ones is an odd couple prison break drama pairing Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis on the run and free from their cell but still remaining shackled and chained at the wrist. This film is at its best when focused on the interplay between Curtis and Poitier, their divide heightened over racial difference (and supported by sharp dialogue exchanges between the two) but ultimately leading to a bond that asks what is freedom without loyalty. The film does falter where focused on the pursuit of the escapees however Theodore Bikel as Sherrif does do an admirable job of keeping his gun toting, trigger happy deputies at bay, a theme echoed later where the the duo are at the mercy of a murderous lynch mob. I'm absolutely stumped about the meanings and relevance of the song Poitier sings at various intervals - something about a bowling green and a kitten sitting on a sewing machine?!? This was no doubt the inspiration for AIP's excellently titled 1970s Blaxploitation actioner 'Black Mama, White Mama'.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Prob one of my fav Poitier's film, even tho he is his typical I'm going to educate the white man trope (very type-casted). A tale of unlikely friendship, forged by their hardships as they realize they have more in common than not. Also, humanizing of criminals, who normally we always see portrayed as the worst of the worst by media (some are). However, the majority are probably addicts and people with low education and mental illness committing low-level crimes like theft/drug possession. Who hasn't felt lonely or stuck in life? The movie moved fast as they go along different hurdles, good acting and interesting. I would give it more stars as it keeps your attention and is paced well with decent action, but it seemed to be missing something other than the typical race message and friendship tale that was predictable.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

dave s

Two convicts, one a black man and the other a racist, chained together, escape from custody after being involved in a car accident while being transported and battle their own demons while trying to evade their pursuers. While The Defiant One's racial themes resolve themselves in a predictable manner, the movie is a thrilling cat and mouse game and leaves the audience guessing until the final scene. Sydney Poitier and Tony Curtis are excellent in the lead roles and the black and white cinematography, especially the shallow focus shots, is striking. While too much time may have been dedicated to the seemingly incompetent pursuers (why is one of the deputies allowed to play his radio at full volume throughout the chase?), it remains an engrossing film with important messages.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Stanley Kramer

Director

Tony Curtis

John "Joker" Jackson

Sidney Poitier

Noah Cullen

Theodore Bikel

Sheriff Max Muller

Charles McGraw

Capt. Frank Gibbons

Cara Williams

Billy's Mother

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The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - Chasing the Train

2:59

The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - Afraid of Catching My Color?

2:59

The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - You Don't Even Know My Name

2:48

The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - You Can't Go Lynching Me, I'm a White Man

3:57

The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - Trapped in the Quarry

3:22

The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - I Been Mad All My Natural Life

1:54

The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - I'm Lettin Ya Loose

2:19

The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - North vs. South

2:54

The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - Words That Stick Like Needles

2:38

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Jonas Mekas

Village Voice

One can feel that Kramer, instead of letting the idea grow from an inner necessity, started with a cliche: "Now I am going to make a social film."

Apr 20, 2022

Full Review

George Bourke

Miami Herald

Its message is absorbingly wrapped however, in elements of acute suspense and blood raw action that should excite even those who deplore the integration of sobering thought and fiction in their movie entertainment.

Jan 30, 2021

Full Review

Mildred Martin

Philadelphia Inquirer

The Defiant Ones is a film no one with mind or heart is likely to forget in a long, long time.

Jan 30, 2021

Full Review

Jet Staff

Jet Magazine

In his attempt to keep from making the movie a maudlin mess, Kramer has indeed made The Defiant Ones Hollywood’s best message film ever.

Jan 16, 2024

Full Review

Moira Walsh

The Catholic World

Kramer has given the story the kind of stark production it needed and especially has obtained heightened realistic effects through the calculated omission of background music.

Aug 24, 2023

Full Review

Harrison Swain

Tampa Bay Times

On the basis of its personalities, its story and the manner of its telling, The Defiant Ones is superior drama. But beyond this there are depths to be plumbed by individual reaction to an eloquent film.

Sep 20, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

In 1950s America, members of a chain gang are being transported through the South when their truck crashes. Two of the convicts, John "Joker" Jackson (Tony Curtis) and Noah Cullen (Sidney Poitier), who are chained together, find an opportunity to escape. Jackson is white, Cullen is black and, at first, the men appear to be opposites in every way. But as they flee across the country, the two form a deep bond. A female landowner leads Jackson to make a difficult decision about his own freedom.

Director: Stanley Kramer
Screenwriter: Harold Jacob Smith
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Stanley Kramer Company
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 27, 1958, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008

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