Riot (1969)

A riot in a state prison is staged to cover up an escape attempt, during which many inmates and guards are killed. Shot on location at Arizona State Prison.

Director:

Buzz Kulik

Writers:

Frank Elli (novel), James Poe

Stars:

Jim Brown, Gene Hackman, Mike Kellin

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jim Brown	...	Cully Briston
Gene Hackman	...	Red Fraker
Mike Kellin	...	Bugsy
Gerald S. O'Loughlin	...	Grossman
Ben Carruthers	...	Surefoot
Clifford David	...	Mary Sheldon
Bill Walker	...	Jake
Jerry Thompson	...	Fisk
Ricky Summers	...	Gravel Gertie
Mr. Gerri	...	Queen #1
John Neiderhauser	...	Queen #2
Frank Eyman	...	The Warden (as Warden Frank A. Eyman)

Storyline

Cully Briston is serving a 5 year sentence in an Arizona prison. He's not getting along well with the Sergeant of the guards who, on finding a bottle of moonshine near Cully, sends him to the isolation block. Arriving there Cully discovers that inmates have taken over the block and have taken the guards as hostages to demand better living conditions. Inmate Red Fraker, leader of the revolt, has a secret plan to escape with a few other inmates and asks Cully to join them. Red explains there's an old tunnel under the prison auditorium of which prison staff is unaware. Cully plans to brew moonshine to get the other inmates drunk while the select few escape.

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Plot Keywords:

corrupt warden | corrupt | stabbing | psychotronic film | communal showers | 

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Taglines:

Freedom ... by any means necessary.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film is based on a non-fiction novel by Frank Elli. The novel described a real riot that took place in an Arizona state prison.

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Alternate Versions

An edited, "PG" rated version was released to theaters in 1970. Video version is the complete "R" rated version.

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Soundtracks

RAG MOP
Words and Music by Johnny Lee Wills and Deacon Anderson

User Reviews

Tough and tense...

"Riot" is a very tense film that was apparently based on a book about an actual prison situation that occurred in Minnesota. Oddly, however, "Riot" was filmed in Arizona--about the most un-Minnesota like place you can find! It's also unusual in that the famed horror director, William Castle, produced it.

The film stars Jim Brown and Gene Hackman, but they are not the entire show. In fact, while they clearly are the leads, the real stars are the many prisoners--many of which really were prisoners of the Yuma Correctional facility. It gets very high marks for realism that is missing from most other prison films and must have been seen as a VERY gritty film when it debuted. Flamboyantly gay prisoners, home brewed alcohol, impromptu courts to dispense 'justice' to snitches and a lot of blood are things you really don't see in other more sanitized prison films. Because of that, I highly recommend the film--it's tough, tense and exciting throughout.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 May 1969 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Motín

Filming Locations:

Eloy, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

William Castle Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1