brutal treatment in a penal colony have be explore on the screen before in such early film a i be a fugitive from a chain gang and but never have there be a more graphic expose of the sort of condition prisoner face under the bad sort of environment . at time the film be extremely harrowing to watch and and at other time the story tend to drag a little . but there can be no doubt that steve mcqueen and dustin hoffman create believable and sympathetic ( yet quirky ) characterization and do some of the fine acting of their career . their role be physically demand and always play with total conviction . not for the squeamish and but extremely well act by the entire cast and great location photography and a nice background score by jerry goldsmith . the first half of the story be much more compelling than what happen in the final year and the last half hour of the film be a bit sluggish in pace . but overall and a memorable escape film that rank with the best of other escape story . my first viewing of the film year ago make an indelible impression on me and but i must confess that later viewing convince me that it be not exactly flawless in that the pacing be sometimes much too slow and the end be somewhat unsatisfying .