Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954)

Producer Walter Wanger, who had just been released from a prison term after shooting a man he believed was having an affair with his wife, wanted to make a film about the appalling ... See full summary »

Director:

Don Siegel

Writers:

Richard Collins (story), Richard Collins (screenplay)

Stars:

Neville Brand, Emile Meyer, Frank Faylen

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Neville Brand	...	James V. Dunn
Emile Meyer	...	Warden Reynolds
Frank Faylen	...	Commissioner Haskell
Leo Gordon	...	Crazy Mike Carnie
Robert Osterloh	...	The Colonel
Paul Frees	...	Guard Monroe
Don Keefer	...	Reporter
Alvy Moore	...	Gator
Dabbs Greer	...	Schuyler
Whit Bissell	...	Guard Snader
James Anderson	...	Guard Acton
Carleton Young	...	Captain of the Guards Barrett
Harold J. Kennedy	...	Reporter
William Schallert	...	Reporter
Jonathan Hole	...	Reporter Russell

Storyline

Producer Walter Wanger, who had just been released from a prison term after shooting a man he believed was having an affair with his wife, wanted to make a film about the appalling conditions he saw while he was incarcerated. He got together with director Don Siegel and they came up with this film, in which several prison inmates, to protest brutal guards, substandard food, overcrowding and barely livable conditions, stage an uprising, in which most of the inmates join, and take several guards hostage. Negotiations between the inmates and prison officials are stymied, however, by politicians interfering with the prison administration, and by dissension and infighting in the inmates' own ranks.

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Plot Keywords:

prison | digit in title | number in title

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Taglines:

FILMED ON THE SPOT BEHIND PRISON WALLS! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 February 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Les révoltés de la cellule 11

Filming Locations:

Folsom State Prison - 300 Prison Road, Represa, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Allied Artists Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was such a financial and critical success for Allied Artists (formerly Monogram) that they were able to book the film into theatres well into the late 1950s.

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Connections

Referenced in Invasion of the Body Snatchers... An Interview with Kevin McCarthy (1985)

User Reviews

Exceptionally done

An exceptional social issue film about prisoners rioting, trying to get the press to tell the stories of their mistreatment and trying to get the government to effect change in the prison system. Everything about it is absolutely top-notch: the screenplay and the direction are realistic and very, very taut. Don Siegel, I assume, didn't have a huge budget on this one, and he accomplishes an amazing lot. I love the way Richard Collin's script pits the rioters not only against the establishment, but also against each other. In a cell block full of so many differing personalities (or perhaps "criminalities" is a better word), they're not all likely to agree. The acting is almost universally excellent, with the one exception of Emile Meyer, who plays the Warden. He's a little creaky, but all the others, including Neville Brand, Leo Gordon (who had been a real prisoner in the prison seen in this film), and Robert Osterloh among many others, are pretty much perfect. One strong moment after another makes Riot in Cell Block 11 a must-see gem, a low-budget masterpiece. 10/10.