The Defiant Ones

The Defiant Ones

The Defiant Ones is a 1958 drama film which tells the story of two escaped prisoners, one white and one black, who are shackled together and who must co-operate in order to survive. It stars Tony Curtis, Sidney Poitier, Theodore Bikel, Cara Williams, Charles McGraw, and Lon Chaney, Jr. Ivan Dixon was a stunt double for Sidney Poitier The film was adapted by Harold Jacob Smith from the story by Nedrick Young, originally credited as Nathan E. Douglas. It was directed by Stanley Kramer. Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer, of the Our Gang comedies, has a small role. It was his last before his death. Two...
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quick facts
Release date:1958
Directed by:Stanley Kramer
Runtime:97 Minutes
Producer:Stanley Kramer
Editor:Frederic Knudtson
Cinematography:Sam Leavitt
Screenplay by:Nedrick Young, Harold Jacob Smith
Genre:Thriller

Award-winners from The Defiant Ones

Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier
Character:Noah Cullen
Born:February 20, 1927

Cast of The Defiant Ones

Tony Curtis
Tony Curtis
John 'Joker' Jackson
Born:June 3, 1925
Died:Sept. 29, 2010
Lon Chaney, Jr.
Lon Chaney, Jr.
Born:Feb. 10, 1906
Died:July 12, 1973
Whit Bissell
Whit Bissell
Born:Oct. 25, 1909
Died:Mar. 5, 1996
Claude Akins
Claude Akins
Born:May 25, 1926
Died:Jan. 27, 1994
Charles McGraw
Charles McGraw
Born:May 10, 1914
Died:July 30, 1980
Carl Switzer
Carl Switzer
Born:Aug. 7, 1927
Died:Jan. 21, 1959

Honors and Awards

YearAward Won
1958 Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Sam Leavitt
1959 Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Film, Stanley Kramer
1958 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, Nedrick Young
1958 BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor, Sidney Poitier
1958 BAFTA United Nations Award
1958 Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written Drama, Nedrick Young
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YearAward Nomination
1958 Academy Award for Best Director, Stanley Kramer
1958 Academy Award for Actor in a Leading Role, Tony Curtis
1958 Academy Award for Actor in a Leading Role, Sidney Poitier
1958 Academy Award for Best Picture, Stanley Kramer
1958 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, Harold Jacob Smith
1958 Academy Award for Actor in a Supporting Role, Theodore Bikel
1958 Academy Award for Actress in a Supporting Role, Cara Williams
1958 BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor, Sidney Poitier
1958 BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor, Tony Curtis
1958 BAFTA Award for Best Film, Stanley Kramer
1959 Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Film, Stanley Kramer
1959 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Drama Film, Tony Curtis
1959 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Drama Film, Sidney Poitier
1959 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Film, Cara Williams
1959 Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Film, Stanley Kramer
1958 DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film, Stanley Kramer
1959 Golden Globe for Best Film Promoting International Understanding, Stanley Kramer
1958 BAFTA United Nations Award
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Film director of The Defiant Ones

Stanley Kramer
Stanley Kramer
Born: September 29, 1913
Died: February 19, 2001

Stanley Earl Kramer was an American film director and producer. Kramer was responsible for some of Hollywood's most famous "message" movies. His notable films include The Defiant Ones , On the Beach , Inherit the Wind , Judgment at Nuremberg , It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World , Ship of Fools and...
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TitleReleasedRatedGenre
The Runner Stumbles 1979
The Domino Principle 1977 Thriller
Judgment: The Court Martial of Lt. William Calley 1975 Biography
Oklahoma Crude 1973
Bless the Beasts and Children 1971
R. P. M. 1970
The Secret of Santa Vittoria 1969 PG-13 (USA) Comedy
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner 1967
Ship of Fools 1965
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World 1963 G (USA) Comedy
Judgment at Nuremberg 1961
Inherit the Wind 1960
On the Beach 1959 Disaster
The Defiant Ones 1958 Thriller
The Pride and the Passion 1957 Action
Not as a Stranger 1955
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q:
    The film, "The Defiant Ones" is in what genre?
  • A:
    It is classified as... Drama, Thriller and Crime.
  • Q:
    What tagline was used in advertising materials for the motion picture, "The Defiant Ones"?
  • A:
    The movie's tagline was, "One of the great ones!"
  • Q:
    Which honors did the motion picture "The Defiant Ones" win?
  • A:
    The film received the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Drama and Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay.
  • Q:
    What is the runtime of the film "The Defiant Ones"?
  • A:
    The total runtime is 97 minutes.
  • Q:
    When was the motion picture "The Defiant Ones" debuted?
  • A:
    The movie premiered in July, 1958.
  • Q:
    Who wrote the script for the film The Defiant Ones?
  • A:
    Nedrick Young and Harold Jacob Smith performed the movie's screenwriting.
  • Q:
    Who directed the movie "The Defiant Ones"?
  • A:
    Stanley Kramer directed the movie.
  • Q:
    Who produced the film, "The Defiant Ones"?
  • A:
    Stanley Kramer was the movie's producer.
  • Q:
    Which actors starred in the film "The Defiant Ones"?
  • A:
    Tony Curtis, Sidney Poitier, Theodore Bikel, Cara Williams, Charles McGraw and Stephen Baldwin played leading roles.

Awards & Accolades

  • Best Original Screenplay
    1959
  • Golden Globe Award Best Motion Picture - Drama
    1959
The Defiant Ones
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