prison escape film early 1980s

[pjcmanchester]

Can any one help ID a film I saw in the early 1980s concerning two youths who escape and go on the run from a detention centre/penitentiary. It was set in the USA, probably in the south as they escape through some swamps or bayou and at one point one lad tells the other he has just stepped on a alligator (or similar). At the end of the film, I think one gets caught, the other gets away. Many thanks!

[Moondog]

Re: prison escape film early 1980s

only suggestion i have is the 1983 Sean Penn film 'Bad Boys'

[pjcmanchester]

Re: prison escape film early 1980s

Thanks for the suggestion, it was around that same time (maybe 1-2 years either side) but definitely not Bad Boys.

[tivaro27]

Re: prison escape film early 1980s

Sounds like "Papillon" to me. Maybe.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070511/?ref_=ttmi_tt

[pjcmanchester]

Re: prison escape film early 1980s

Thanks but not Papillon. There were no big names attached, I think it may have been an indie film. It occurs to me that the alligators could have been crocs, so it could have been Australian.