The new warden of a small prison farm in Arkansas tries to clean it up of corruption after initially posing as an inmate.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 3 nominations.
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Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Robert Redford | ... |
Henry Brubaker
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| Yaphet Kotto | ... |
Richard 'Dickie' Coombes
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| Jane Alexander | ... |
Lillian Gray
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| Murray Hamilton | ... |
John Deach
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| David Keith | ... |
Larry Lee Bullen
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| Morgan Freeman | ... |
Walter
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| Matt Clark | ... |
Roy Purcell
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| Tim McIntire | ... |
Huey Rauch
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| Richard Ward | ... |
Abraham Cook
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| Jon Van Ness | ... |
Zaranska
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| M. Emmet Walsh | ... |
C.P. 'Woody' Woodward
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| Albert Salmi | ... |
Rory Poke
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| Linda Haynes | ... |
Carol
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| Everett McGill | ... |
Eddie Caldwell
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| Val Avery | ... |
Wendel
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| Ron Frazier | ... |
Burl Willets
(as Ronald C. Frazier)
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David Harris | ... |
Duane Spivey
(as David D. Harris)
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| Joe Spinell | ... |
Floyd Birdwell
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| James Keane | ... |
Pinky
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| Konrad Sheehan | ... |
Glenn Elwood
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| Roy Poole | ... |
Dr. Gregory
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| Nathan George | ... |
Leon Edwards - Prison Board
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| Don Blakely | ... |
Jerome Boyd
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| Lee Richardson | ... |
Warden Renfro
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| John McMartin | ... |
Senator Charles Hite
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| Alex Brown | ... |
Fenway Park
(as Alex A. Brown)
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John Chappell | ... |
Captain Cleaves
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| Brent Jennings | ... |
Mr. Clarence
(as Brent N. Jennings)
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| Harry Groener | ... |
Dr. Campbell
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| William Newman | ... |
Dunfield - Prison Board
(as William M. Newman)
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| Noble Willingham | ... |
Dr. Fenster
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| Wilford Brimley | ... |
Rogers - Prison Board
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Jane Cecil | ... |
Bea Williams - Prison Board
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| Ebbe Roe Smith | ... |
Pavitch
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Young Hwa Han | ... |
Leonard Ng
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| Vic Polizos | ... |
Billy Baylock
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Jack O'Leary | ... |
Floor Walker
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James Dukas | ... |
Oafish Rankman
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| J.C. Quinn | ... |
Barber
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| Jerry Mayer | ... |
Barber
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Ivy Featherstone | ... |
Peterson
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| Kent Broadhurst | ... |
Whitley
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Hazen Gifford | ... |
Partridge
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Elane Rower Richardson | ... |
Mrs. Renfro
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John R. Glover | ... |
Ackroyd
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Bill McNulty | ... |
Richards
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Linda Milligan | ... |
Female Reporter
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| Rob Garrison | ... |
Pretty Boy
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James E. Fraunfelter Jr. | ... |
Barracks Trusty
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| Ritch Brinkley | ... |
Gate Guard
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David E. Williams | ... |
Rank Server
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E.J. Pearcy | ... |
Transfer Guard
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J.K. Mahle | ... |
Bus Driver
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Vivian P. Bass | ... |
Waitress
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Greg Martin | ... |
Trusty
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Philip Bartlett | ... |
Young Reporter
(as Philip E. Combs)
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Richard L. Denny | ... |
State Trooper
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Michael Holiday | ... |
Gate Trusty
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Nick Baldasare | ... |
Prisoner with Shovel (uncredited)
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| Todd Covert | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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| Gary Jones | ... |
Investigative Reporter (uncredited)
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| Monty Jordan | ... |
Inmate Wrangler (uncredited)
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| Rob Liotti | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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| Hank Salas | ... |
Inmate in Chow Line (uncredited)
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Dennis Thompson | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Stuart Rosenberg | ||
Written by
| W.D. Richter | ... | (screenplay) |
| W.D. Richter | ... | (story) and |
| Arthur A. Ross | ... | (story) (as Arthur Ross) |
| Thomas O. Murton | ... | (suggested by) (book "Accomplices to the Crime: The Arkansas Prison Scandal") and |
| Joe Hyams | ... | (suggested by) (book "Accomplices to the Crime: The Arkansas Prison Scandal") |
| Bob Rafelson | ... | (story) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Ted Mann | ... | executive producer |
| Ron Silverman | ... | producer |
| Gordon A. Webb | ... | associate producer (as Gordon Webb) |
Music by
| Lalo Schifrin | ||
Cinematography by
| Bruno Nuytten | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Robert Brown | ||
Editorial Department
| Michael Jablow | ... | supervising assistant editor |
| Willie Navarro | ... | assistant editor |
| Pam Sharp | ... | assistant editor (as Pamela Sharp) |
Casting By
| Terry Liebling | ||
Art Direction by
| J. Michael Riva | ||
Set Decoration by
| John Franco Jr. | ||
Makeup Department
| Zoltan Elek | ... | additional makeup artist |
| Gary Liddiard | ... | makeup artist |
| Mike Moschella | ... | additional makeup artist |
| Marina Pedraza | ... | hair stylist |
Production Management
| Gordon A. Webb | ... | unit production manager (as Gordon Webb) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Jon C. Andersen | ... | assistant director |
| D. Scott Easton | ... | second assistant director (as Scott Easton) |
| Robert E. Rody | ... | additional second assistant director (as Robert E. Rooy) |
Art Department
| Benton E. Tedlie | ... | set dresser |
| Hendrik Wynands | ... | construction coordinator |
| John Zemansky | ... | property master |
| John Rozman | ... | set dresser (uncredited) |
| 'Dangerous' Bob Widin | ... | assistant property master (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| William Hartman | ... | sound effects editor |
| David M. Ice | ... | sound effects editor (as David Ice) |
| Godfrey Marks | ... | dialogue editor |
| Theodore Soderberg | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Richard Sperber | ... | sound effects editor |
| Paul Wells | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Charles M. Wilborn | ... | sound mixer (as Charles Wilborn) |
| Douglas O. Williams | ... | re-recording mixer (as Douglas Williams) |
| John S. Coffey | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
| Gordon Webb | ... | cable person (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Al Wright Jr. | ... | special effects |
| Jay King | ... | special effects technician (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Mickey Gilbert | ... | stunt coordinator |
| John Ashby | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Monty Jordan | ... | assistant stunt coordinator (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Enrique Bravo | ... | camera operator |
| Lou Noto | ... | assistant camera (as Louis Noto) |
| Joe Pender | ... | gaffer (as Joseph Pender) |
| Vincent Saizis | ... | additional photographer |
| Stephen Wever | ... | still photographer |
| Doug Willis | ... | key grip |
| Oscar Barber | ... | camera operator: "b" camera (uncredited) |
| William D. Barber | ... | assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited) |
| Jim Coe | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Mary A. Gaffney | ... | extras casting |
| Gretchen Higgins | ... | extras casting |
| Garrison True | ... | extras casting |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Tom Bronson | ... | costumer |
| Bernie Pollack | ... | costumer |
| Aida Swinson | ... | costumer: ladies |
Location Management
| Patrick Markey | ... | location supervisor: Ohio |
Music Department
| Jack Hayes | ... | orchestrator |
| Robert H. Raff | ... | music editor |
| Robert Adcock | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| John Audino | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Harry Bluestone | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Dennis Budimir | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| James Burton | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| Pete Chrislieb | ... | musician: woodwinds (uncredited) |
| Herman Clebanoff | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Ronald Cooper | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Douglas Davis | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Vince De Rosa | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| James Decker | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Chuck Domanico | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Bonnie Jean Douglas | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Steve Edelman | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Arni Egilsson | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Julie Eidsvoog | ... | music copyist (uncredited) |
| Richard Feves | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Ralph Grierson | ... | musician: piano, keyboards (uncredited) |
| Alton Hendrickson | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| Paula Hochhalter | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| The Hollywood Studio Symphony | ... | music performed by (uncredited) |
| Anatol Kaminsky | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Armand Kaproff | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Nathan Kaproff | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Myra Kestenbaum | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Ezra Kliger | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Janet Lakatos | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Michael Lang | ... | musician: piano, keyboards (uncredited) |
| Ronald Langinger | ... | musician: woodwinds (uncredited) |
| Edie Lehmann Boddicker | ... | singer (uncredited) |
| Warren Luening | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Alfred Lustgarten | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Virginia Majewski | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Malcolm McNab | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Chris McNary | ... | score recordist (uncredited) |
| Ed Meares | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Peter Mercurio | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Tommy Morgan | ... | musician: harmonica soloist (uncredited) |
| Richard Nash | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Ted Nash | ... | musician: woodwinds (uncredited) |
| John Neal | ... | music scoring mixer (uncredited) |
| Buell Neidlinger | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| John Neufeld | ... | musician: woodwinds (uncredited) |
| Irma Neumann | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| David Newman | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Dick Noel | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Sonny Olivera | ... | musician: drums, percussion (uncredited) |
| Don Peake | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| Richard Perissi | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Dorothy Remsen | ... | musician: harp (uncredited) |
| Emil Richards | ... | musician: drums, percussion (uncredited) |
| Kim Richmond | ... | musician: woodwinds (uncredited) |
| George Roberts | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Ernie Rosecrans | ... | music copyist (uncredited) |
| Meyer Rubin | ... | music contractor (uncredited) |
| Jerry Scheff | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Lalo Schifrin | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
| David Schwartz | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Bud Shank | ... | musician: woodwinds (uncredited) |
| Erica Sharp | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Thomas Shepard | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Harry Shlutz | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Haim Shtrum | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Paul Shure | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Henry Sigismonti | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Eleanor Slatkin | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Paul Sprosty | ... | music copyist (uncredited) |
| Sally Stevens | ... | singer (uncredited) |
| Ann Stockton | ... | musician: harp (uncredited) |
| Lloyd Ulyate | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Ian Underwood | ... | musician: piano, keyboards (uncredited) |
| Miwako Watanabe | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Ken Watson | ... | musician: drums, percussion (uncredited) |
| Snooky Young | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Julie Pitkanen | ... | script supervisor (as Julie D. Pitkanen) |
Transportation Department
| Aram Betkijian | ... | transportation coordinator |
| James Nordberg | ... | driver (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| R.J. Cavallaro | ... | production assistant |
| Chip Fowler | ... | production coordinator |
| Jack Hirshberg | ... | publicist |
| Rick Horwitch | ... | assistant: producer |
| Harry Kohoyda Jr. | ... | production accountant (as Harry Kohoyda) |
| Alan Ladd Jr. | ... | presenter |
| Kenneth Lee | ... | head wrangler (as Kenny Lee) |
| Thomas O. Murton | ... | technical advisor |
| Helen Taini | ... | assistant: producer (as Helen Taini Nayfack) |
| Lydia Telo | ... | production timekeeper |
| Cullen G. Chambers | ... | stand-in: Morgan Freeman (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Richard Ward | ... | tribute: for a lifetime of very special work |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Twentieth Century Fox (1980) (United States) (theatrical) (as Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation)
- Twentieth Century Fox Film Company (1980) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- 20th Century Fox Argentina (1980) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- City Film (1980) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Filmes Castello Lopes (1980) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox (1981) (France) (theatrical)
- Magnetic Video (1980) (United States) (VHS) (for Twentieth Century Fox)
- 20th Century Fox India (1981) (India) (theatrical) (as 20th Century Fox Corporation)
- Columbia-Fox (1981) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox (1981) (France) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox (1981) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1982) (United States) (tv)
- Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox (Argentina) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox (West Germany) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox Home Video (1984) (Australia) (video)
- CBS Electronics (1987) (Greece) (VHS)
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (United States) (VHS)
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2013) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- LA7 (2016) (Italy) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Fox Fanfare Music (original music copyright)
- Production Systems Inc. (location equipment)
- The Ohio Film Bureau (producers thanks)
- Panavision (photographic equipment)
- Pacific Title (titles and opticals)
- DeLuxe Laboratories (color by)
- Modern VideoFilm (post-production facilities) (restoration)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
When the new warden comes in disguised as an inmate, he sees firsthand all the corruption and scams the guards and prison officials are running. When he reveals himself and starts to implement reforms to stop the corruption, the local business community, who had been benefiting from the scams, fights back, and the corrupt prison system starts making political trouble for the new warden.
Written by Brian W Martz |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The most wanted man in Wakefield prison is the warden! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $7,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $2,748,079, 22 Jun 1980 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Based on the real-life efforts of former prison administrator Thomas O. Murton to reform Tucker and Cummins Prison Farms in Arkansas in 1967-68. The film was based on the 1969 book, "Accomplices to the Crime: The Arkansas Prison Scandal" by Murton and Joe Hyams. Murton also served as a technical adviser for the film. See more » |
| Goofs | At the end, when the car is leaving the prison, the grass around is violently shaking revealing the helicopter carrying the camera. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Robert Redford (1992). See more » |
| Soundtracks | All for the Love of Sunshine See more » |
| Crazy Credits | "We wish to pay tribute to Richard Ward, who played 'Abraham,' for a lifetime of very special work." See more » |
| Quotes |
Richard 'Dickie' Coombes:
What you gon' do about Abraham? Henry Brubaker: I've got Purcell filling out forms in triplicate, and I'm going to get him released just as soon as I- Richard 'Dickie' Coombes: Now why do you wanna go and do that? Henry Brubaker: Do what? Richard 'Dickie' Coombes: Look, why don't you just leave him be. I mean, all he knows is this place. Henry Brubaker: You - You knew that he had been in here as long as he'd been in here. Richard 'Dickie' Coombes: Just leave him alone. He's not- He's not botherin' nobody here. Henry Brubaker: Hey... You can't hide in prison forever, Coombes. See more » |