★★★★ The vast majority of us know the performance of the legendary American actor Morgan Freeman (1937), for memorable characters such as the dapper and friendly chauffeur from “Driving Miss Daisy”, or the circumspect detective from “Deadly Sins (Se7en)”, but few know that, when he played an inmate in “Dreams of freedom (The Shawshank Redemption)”, the interpreter had already been in prison in real life, although for a short period.
It was during his time in the Air Force that Freeman and a friend traveled to Los Angeles while on leave. Hitchhiking they were stopped by local police who suspected they were AWOL. Freeman had his pass, but the partner had left it in his room. They spent four days in jail, despite the fact that the future actor was given the option to continue the journey alone, while his stories were verified. They were finally released.
Perhaps this fact also influenced when choosing the prestigious performer, winner of the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Million Dollar Baby”, to narrate “Great Escapes”, the new History series. There, true stories of legendary prison escapes are revealed that inspired countless novels and movies, because their protagonists and their circumstances surpassed any fiction. This eight-episode production offers a look at those elaborate prison breaks, and the main players behind them, including the cases of Alcatraz, Dannemora, El Chapo Guzmán and the Pittsburgh Six.
In addition to dramatic re-enactments, dynamic storytelling, and cutting-edge visual effects made with state-of-the-art technology (more specifically, the Unreal Engine), the show is built on testimonials from prisoners, their families, cellmates, prison guards, and employees who tried to prevent these historic escapes.
Undoubtedly, the value is telling real stories, but in an entertaining way. In other words, the events as they happened, with nothing invented, only minute details are avoided to highlight much more the main aspect that is the action. Simultaneously, the shipment offers a glimpse of how dedicated, courageous, and resourceful people can be in desperate situations.
Of course, all this acquires value in the voice of a thousand nuances that Freeman has that, when narrating the different events, takes on the stature of an interpretation in itself.
