Penitentiary Poster
MOVIEmeter
SEE RANK
Up 838 this week

Penitentiary (1979)

R 99 min  -  Drama | Sport  -   December 1979 (USA)
5.6
Your rating:
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -/10 X  
Ratings: 5.6/10 from 306 users  
Reviews: 10 user | 20 critic

A hitchhiker named Martel Gordone gets in a fight with two bikers over a prostitute, and one of the bikers is killed... See full summary »

Director:

Jamaa Fanaka

Writer:

Jamaa Fanaka

Stars:

Wilbur 'Hi-Fi' White, Leon Isaac Kennedy and Thommy Pollard
 Loading+Watchlist
View Watchlist »
New List »
8 photos | 1 video | 5 news articles | full cast and crew »

Watch now

Amazon Instant Video »
Buy it from Amazon »

Quick Links:

Related News

Penitentiary Director, Jamaa Fanaka, Passes.
16 April 2012 7:21 AM, PDT | Boomtron
DVD Review: Jamaa Fanaka's Penitentiary (UK)
4 April 2012 9:59 PM, PDT | Twitch
Daily Briefing. Nicole Brenez and "Film Criticism Today"
4 April 2012 9:03 AM, PDT | MUBI
See all 5 related articles »
Create a list  »

Related Lists

image of title
Awesome Trash/Grindhouse/Exploitation Movies
a list of 135 titles by Brooklyn_Zoo22 created 1 month ago
 
image of title
Count Rickula's Favorite Blaxploitation Films
a list of 39 titles by Rick created 24 Jan 2011
 
image of title
If you like Boxing Movies here you go !!!
a list of 190 titles by MoviesGalore44 created 11 months ago
 
image of title
Every Movie I've Seen
a list of 300 titles by Chris_Esper created 10 months ago
 
image of title
My Complete Watchlist
a list of 8,263 titles by Ludwig_von_Mises created 9 months ago
 
See all 20 related lists »

Connect with IMDb

Pre-Order the Kindle Fire
Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Wilbur 'Hi-Fi' White Wilbur 'Hi-Fi' White ...
Sweet Pea
Leon Isaac Kennedy ...
Martel 'Too Sweet' Gordone
Thommy Pollard Thommy Pollard ...
Eugene T. Lawson
Hazel Spears Hazel Spears ...
Linda (as Hazel Spear)
Donovan Womack Donovan Womack ...
Jesse Amos
Floyd 'Wildcat' Chatman Floyd 'Wildcat' Chatman ...
Hezzikia 'Seldom Seen' Jackson (as Floyd Chatman)
Gloria Delaney Gloria Delaney ...
Peaches
Badja Djola Badja Djola ...
'Half Dead' Johnson
Chuck Mitchell Chuck Mitchell ...
Lieutenant Arnsworth
Cepheus Jaxon Cepheus Jaxon ...
Poindexter
Dwaine Fobbs Dwaine Fobbs ...
Lying Latney Winborn
Ernest Wilson Ernest Wilson ...
Cheese
Will Richardson Will Richardson ...
Magilla Gorilla
Elijah Mitchell Elijah Mitchell ...
Nut #1
Tony Andrea Tony Andrea ...
Mook
Full cast and crew »
Edit

Storyline

A hitchhiker named Martel Gordone gets in a fight with two bikers over a prostitute, and one of the bikers is killed. Gordone is arrested and sent to prison, where he joins the prison's boxing team in an effort to secure an early parole and to establish his dominance over the prison's toughest gang. Written by page8701  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Boxing | Drifter | Convict | Homosexuality | False Accusation  | See more »

Taglines:

There's only one way out, and 100 fools stand in the way! See more »

Genres:

Drama | Sport

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
Edit

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Jamaa Fanaka's Penitentiary See more »

Filming Locations:

Lincoln Heights Jail - 401 N. Avenue 19, Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$100,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$72,000 (USA) (1980)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

The fight in the jail cell between Badja Djola and Leon Isaac Kennedy took three days to film. Neither Djola nor Kennedy used stunt doubles for this brutal and lengthy fight set piece. See more »

Connections

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Rod Stewart (#7.1)" (1981) See more »

Soundtracks

"Kissy Face"
Written, Produced and Performed by Mark Gaillard and the Slim and Trim Band See more »