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 | prison | arizona | 

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Taglines:

They exploded the ugliest riot in prison history to cover their dangerous, desperate break for freedom.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

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 (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

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

100 YEARS
Lyric by Robert Wells
Music by Krzysztof Komeda (as Christopher Komeda)
Sung by Bill Medley

User Reviews

" Don't wait for me. I'll be here for one hundred years "

Every prison throughout the world, whether state or Federal is an enclosed pressure cooker capped by an ever tightening lid of anger, hate and frustration. Within the walls are a collection of unruly, unpredictable, undisciplined gathering of misfits, murderers and anti-social types. For the most part they are watched and guarded so they do not escape their confinement which is the location for the film called " Riot. " Jim Brown stars as Cully Briston with Gene Hackman as Red Fraker. Although, Cully is to be released in a couple of months, 'Red' and his fellow inmates stage a small takeover in the infirmary which spills over to the detention ward. Having little to do with the initial incident, Cully nevertheless becomes part of the escalating situation when he helps his friends. Gerald O'Loughlin, plays one of the more contentious prison guards who has been throwing his weight around for years in the prison, suddenly feigns sickly and fragile in the face of death. Meanwhile, the Warden who has been vacationing, returns and orders the prisoners to cease and desist. As he prepares to send in his Riot-Squads, the prisoners plan on escaping with an Indian guide called Surefoot. (Ben Carruthers) The seconds tick away and the situation becomes hopelessly unmanageable. The Warden, the Guards and the prisoners all await the next turn of events. Strong character drama from Brown, Hackman and Mike Kellin give this feature a realistic aura and one sure to make high drama for the audience. Good Film and one of the best performances for Jim Brown. ****