My Six Convicts (1952)

A psychologist pioneers a research study at a prison. He seeks the help of six savvy inmates including a safe-cracker, a mobster, a pair of armed robbers and psychopath. Could he trust them? What's in it for them?

Director:

Hugo Fregonese

Writers:

Michael Blankfort (screen play), Donald Powell Wilson (book)

Stars:

Millard Mitchell, Gilbert Roland, John Beal

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Millard Mitchell	...	James T. Connie
Gilbert Roland	...	Punch Pinero
John Beal	...	Doc
Marshall Thompson	...	Blivens Scott
Alf Kjellin	...	Clem Randall
Harry Morgan	...	Dawson (as Henry Morgan)
Jay Adler	...	Steve Kopac
Regis Toomey	...	Dr. Gordon
Fay Roope	...	Warden
Carleton Young	...	Capt. Haggarty
John Marley	...	Knotty Johnson
Russ Conway	...	Dr. Hughes
Byron Foulger	...	Dr. Brint
Charles Bronson	...	Jocko (as Charles Buchinsky)

Storyline

The new state government is embarking on a program of prison reform, one of the measures to appoint a psychologist at Harbor State Prison on a six month probation period to ascertain prisoners' mental acuity, including skill aptitude, not only to make them more productive members of prison society, but also to prepare them for a straight life once outside the prison walls. The outcome of this trial will dictate whether this specific project will continue and if it will be expanded to other prisons. The appointee, hereafter referred to as Doc, is an academic who has no experience working with prisoners, and as such walks into the situation a bit naive. Despite the Warden's best guess that the trial is doomed to failure as the prisoners will never trust him or the process in only seeing him and it as a means to gather information to use against them - he being a so-called stoolie - Doc is determined to uphold the project's purpose, which requires confidentiality in whatever prisoners ...

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Plot Keywords:

prison | escape | based on novel | 

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Taglines:

THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PUBLIC ENEMIES! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

While viewing on cable TV one scene went out of focus. It may have been to guard test security.

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Goofs

The convicts manage to carry off an elaborate scheme to bring Randall's wife from Canada and smuggle her into the prison simply so Randall can enjoy ten minutes of marital bliss. But there is no explanation offered as to just exactly how they got her out again, nor why Randall didn't go with her, if they did, after it's all over.

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Quotes

Doc: [voice over] I also remember how grateful I was that at least some of my men had learned to be loyal. Not to a gang or to power but to a job; in a small way to society and this gave me hope for their future.

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Soundtracks

Columbia The Gem of the Ocean
(uncredited)
Written by David T. Shaw

User Reviews

Unusual funny and human comedy-drama

A sleeper that evidently few have seen recently, this unpretentious comedy-drama can take an honorable mention in the long list of prison films. An early Stanley Kramer production, it received critical acclaim but was not a box-office success. Nevertheless, it has good character acting, some very amusing scenes, and enough dramatic tension to hold the attention and set off the comic moments.

Don't be put off by the overly earnest opening, as the new, wet-behind-the-ears psychiatrist arrives at the prison hoping to reform the penitentiary system single-handed. Although Kramer reportedly had prison reform in mind in making the film, this movie is not about psychological theories, which are lightly passed over with buzz-word gobbledygook. It's not even about the good doctor himself or his research so much as it's about the six cons of the title, as they become human beings to us.

Speaking of buzz-words, the genial Connie's psycho-babble malapropisms are among the best of the running gags. The many funny scenes stand out against the grim realism of the penitentiary, shot on location at San Quentin. The comedy also contrasts sharply with the dramatic dilemma the "doc" must face between gaining (and keeping) the confidence of his six cons and learning too much to be healthy in the deadly reality of prison life. But overall this is a human comedy more than an edge-of-your seat drama.

There are excellent photographic moments using long wide-angle shots to dramatize the starkness of the prison environment, which contrast well with the friendly intimacy gradually established in the psychiatrist's office. And the movie gets an extra star for the fine score by Dimitri Tiomkin, famous for many much better-known movies from "It's a Wonderful Life" to "The Guns of Navarone".

It's well worth watching for this to come around on television, as you are unlikely to find it at your corner video store -- not available on DVD or VHS at the time of writing.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian Latin

Release Date:

20 March 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

My 6 Convicts

Filming Locations:

San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stanley Kramer Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1