Exploring Alcatraz

I'd like to give this 2 dvd set a rating of 2 1/2 stars to split it right down the middle. Like most of the other reviewers who are Alcatraz enthusiasts, I found some of this documentary entertaining and somewhat informative and some of it not. Disc One contains 2 chapters : the first containing no narration, just interviews, photos, etc. The second chapter, which was recorded in the 1960's, is very interesting and even presented some new information on the history of this prison. However, as stated in a few previous reviews, there is not much information on the infamous 1962 escape by Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers. A few inmate's opinions do shed a different perspective on the escape, but not much else.Disc Two should never have been included here as it's nothing more than clips from a tv show in the 1960's. The quality of the picture and sound is awful. It offers no new material and only serves as a rehash of information already known. My overall opinion: If you can locate a copy of this documentary at a budget or reasonable price, it's worth it for Disc One alone. But for full price, not recommended.

The movie is a good "addition" for anyone interested in some history of Alcatraz, but like everything in life it is something you need to truly see for it yourself and of course we can never truly know without personal experience in prison or from working there.The video is presented in it's original footage unremastered so, it is historical low vhs-like quality. Although I was disappointed in the video quality, I enjoyed it and realize we are fortunate to have anything at all. As usual, the historical value was not realized until it was too late. There are a lot of historical 'bits and pieces' of footage pieced together from news media and interviews, not just a story.The guards, wardens and even the overall video itself, all explain that the media exaggerated the stories and that life there was much more subtle and uneventful. There was a lot of denial from prison authority (unfortunately to be expected) about the escapes and the true nature there which reminded me a lot of the movie "Murder in the First".There were only two prisoners interviewed, which was only a small sample of the overall number of prisoners held there. I would have liked to hear more perspectives on life there, especially as the interviewed prisoners themselves stated, that they were so secluded from overall daily contact inside and especially outside that they were mostly limited to there own perspectives.I grew up in the San Francisco, Bay Area and remember passing by Alcatraz often, viewing it from the Oakland Bay bridge, and my father telling the family about it. The stories, the look of the structures built there, and the fact it was on that little island secluded all by itself, only accessible by boat, made it more intriguing to me.My elementary school went to Alcatraz on a field trip when I was about 10 yrs old, so about 1984, and I loved it. I have not been back since and often wonder what I have forgotten and have heard they don't do as thorough of tour anymore.I remember the ferry, seeing the cells, the cell door mechanism, the cafeteria, the showers, the yard, and solitary confinement which you get to experience. The tour talked about daily life, murders and Alcatraz's history. They showed the original cells from the most famous true escape depicted in the movie "Escape From Alcatraz" and the wanted posters for the escapees.Modern PrisonsI have friends who have worked in modern prisons and jails who have told me about life in them and the good and bad treatment and murders which took place in them from both sides, worker/inmates while they were employed. Sometimes the news mentions it but not often. It's one of those things that most of us could never fathom and that everyone just forgets about. I believe the maximum security prisons of today are more uneventful by means of seclusion, but medium security prisons and jails are more eventful because of more freedom of inmate, guard and outside interaction.Some stories of modern incidents include sex, fights, murders with blunt objects, suicides, etc regarding inmates and guards. So, I can't believe Alcatraz was so uneventful so many years ago.

FOR ANYONE WHO HAS ANY INTREST OF ANY KIND ABOUT ALCATRAZ, THIS IS A MUST SEE. I WAS VERY SUPRISED TO LEARN THE HISTORY OF THIS PLACE. WHEN I TOOK A TRIP THROUGH THIS AREA A FEW YEARS BACK, WE WENT PAST THIS PLACE, BUT WE WERE NEVER TOLD ANY OF THE HISTORY DETALS OF THE ROCK THAT ARE IN THIS SHOW. I HAD ALWAYS LEARNED THAT THIS WAS A PRISON FOR A LOT OF THE BAD CLIMINALS, BUT NOTHING OF WHAT IS SHOWN HERE. AGAIN IF YOU HAVE ANY INTREST IN THIS, DEFENITLY GET THIS, AND LEARN ABOUT LIFE AT ALCATRAZ.

We had visited Alcatraz in October, and once you go, you just want to learn more! This DVD was very interesting, and told us things we didn't know when we visited........I especially enjoyed listening to the criminals, guards and wardens and family members who lived on the island......(which I never realized!)If you have ever visited Alcatraz, you will love this DVD!!

Overall poor quality video. Obviously, old archival type footage was used, so its grainy and a bit blurry. I wasn't expecting HD, but it was distracting and hard to stay focused given the overall picture appearance.

Not at all what I was expecting. The video quality is poor, it looks old and grainy. The delivery of the material is boring too. I couldn't finish it.

Great Product!! Thank you very much!!

Great

Very Informative and the best of this type of DVD on the "Rock".

This took a long time to ship (2 weeks plus). The narrative of this becomes a little bit monotonous, but the actual stories and footage are great. Found it very interesting.