This early Stanley Kramer production is well-cast, with fine performances by Millard Mitchell, a typical bit of interesting overplaying by Gilbert Roland and some good work by the rest of the supporting cast, including Byron Foulger and Henry Morgan. But although the early scenes are nicely done in an appropriate semi-documentary style -- director Fregonese started out doing public-service shorts about firefighters and the police -- the majority of the movie is taken up with moments of melodrama. I also have the uneasy feeling of no real connection -- that the 'six convicts' of the title are meant to be types, rather than individuals.
Cameraman Guy Roe, who started out with well-regarded B noirs like ARMORED CAR ROBBERY and later went into TV work, does some handsome work with good choices of angles. Look for the sequence in which the convicts get upset about the pitcher being withheld from the game.
Cameraman Guy Roe, who started out with well-regarded B noirs like ARMORED CAR ROBBERY and later went into TV work, does some handsome work with good choices of angles. Look for the sequence in which the convicts get upset about the pitcher being withheld from the game.