Exploring Alcatraz

Interesting Documentary, Disappointing Extras
The history of Alcatraz prison is varied, fascinating, and at times tragic. The federal prison on Alcatraz Island in the chilly waters of California's San Francisco Bay housed some of America's most difficult and dangerous felons during its years of operation from 1934 to 1963. Among those who served time at the maximum-security facility were the notorious gangster Al "Scarface" Capone (1899-1947) and murderer Robert "Birdman of Alcatraz" Stroud (1890-1963). Allegedly no inmate ever successfully escaped "The Rock", although more than a dozen known attempts were made over the years. After the prison was shut down due to high operating costs, the island was occupied for almost two years, starting in 1969, by a group of Native-American activists. Today, historic Alcatraz Island, which was also the site of a U.S. military prison from the late 1850s to 1933, is a popular tourist destination. This Documentary tells the story of Alcatraz and the people who lived there.

I think...

alcatraz fan
5 stars because this was a very good television series..i wish the producers would bring it back to tv again but add a few years to it

Good video, Recimmend. Nice perspective, only downside is original recording not remastered.
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...

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