Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Don Siegel

Writer:

Richard Collins (writer)

Release Date:

28 February 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Walter Wanger's RAW-TRUTH EXPOSE!

Plot:

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...

Plot Keywords:

Prison

Awards:

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 nomination

Cast

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

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:16 (1955) | UK:(Banned) (1954) | West Germany:12 (nf) (re-rating) | West Germany:18 (nf) (original rating) | Finland:(Banned) (1955) | UK:15 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Allied Artists Pictures

Trivia:

This was such a hit that Walter Wanger teamed with 'Don Siegel (I)' two years later for the now classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Seven Year Itch (1955)

Rather Disappointing

I'm a massive fan of prison dramas which is reflected in OZ being my all time favourite American TV show . I guess the appeal lies in a type of smug voyeurism of wanting to see bad things happen to bad mens' bottoms , but I found Don Siegel's RIOT IN CELL BLOCK 11 to be rather disappointing . Okay I knew since it was made in 1954 it would be devoid of bad language , graphic shankings and gang rape but even so it's a rather weak film compared to prison portrayal in earlier movies like EACH DAWN I DIE and WHITE HEAT . The problem lies in the preachy tone of the movie with riot leader Dunn being something of a prison reformer . Yeah that sounds ridiculous since he's a violent anti hero rather than some limp wristed tree hugging do gooder on a salary , but that's what he is in essence , he wants to see prisoners rehabilitated to rejoin society rather than being made to suffer . There's also a problem of making a B movie with such radical themes ( Quite ironic that Siegel would later make DIRTY HARRY where the only good criminal is a dead one ) and that is the cast isn't very good with Emile Meyer as the warder being especially irritating in his performance . like i said a disappointing movie