Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Burt Reynolds | ... | Paul Crewe | |
Eddie Albert | ... | Warden Hazen | |
Ed Lauter | ... | Captain Knauer | |
Michael Conrad | ... | Nate Scarboro | |
James Hampton | ... | Caretaker (as Jim Hampton) | |
Harry Caesar | ... | Granville | |
John Steadman | ... | Pop | |
Charles Tyner | ... | Unger | |
Mike Henry | ... | Rassmeusen | |
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Jim Nicholson | ... | Ice Man |
Bernadette Peters | ... | Warden's Secretary | |
Pervis Atkins | ... | Mawabe | |
Tony Cacciotti | ... | Rotka | |
Anitra Ford | ... | Melissa | |
Michael Fox | ... | Announcer |
A football player-turned-convict organizes a team of inmates to play against a team of prison guards. His dilemma is that the warden asks him to throw the game in return for an early release, but he is also concerned about the inmates' lack of self-esteem. Written by Matt Heffernan <msh6880@cs.rit.edu>
If there ever was a manipulative film, this is it. By the end you are rooting for the prisoners (the nice guys, you know, armed robbers, murderers, rapists, child molesters) against those awful guards. Those poor sweet prisoners, being taken advantage of by those sadistic guards. Then there's the warden, Mr. Douglas from Green Acres, Eddie Albert. Rotten to the core. Bert Reynolds is his mugging best, first selling out, then winning one for the Gipper. It is violent, raucous, ridiculous from the stolen uniforms to the cross dressing cheerleaders. I am a non violent person, I knew everything was designed to work over my prejudices and my primitive feelings of revenge. And yet, when the game started, I was transfixed. I don't get it. Have I no taste?