Fed up with the inhumane prison living conditions, a general prison riot breaks out, leading to hostage-taking, a stand-off with the guards and eventual negotiations with the prison administration officials.
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Title: Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Neville Brand | ... | James V. Dunn | |
| Emile Meyer | ... | Warden Reynolds | |
| Frank Faylen | ... | Commissioner Haskell | |
| Leo Gordon | ... | Crazy Mike Carnie | |
| Robert Osterloh | ... | The Colonel | |
| Paul Frees | ... | Monroe | |
| Don Keefer | ... | Reporter | |
| Alvy Moore | ... | Gator | |
| Dabbs Greer | ... | Schuyler | |
| Whit Bissell | ... | Snader | |
| James Anderson | ... | Guard Acton | |
| Carleton Young | ... | Guard Captain Barrett | |
 |
Harold J. Kennedy | ... | Reporter |
| William Schallert | ... | Reporter | |
| Jonathan Hole | ... | Reporter Russell | |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Producer, Walter Wanger, who'd just did time (4 mos. after shooting a man he believed was having an affair with his wife), wanted to make a film which showed the appalling conditions he saw whilat incarcerated. Working with Don Siegel, they wrote this film. In protest to the brutal guards, substandard food, overcrowding and poor living conditions, inmates stage an uprising, and take several guards hostage. Negotiations between the inmates and prison officials are stymied, by politicians interfering with the prison administration, and by dissension and infighting amongst the inmates. Written by frankfob2@yahoo.com
Taglines:
YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE SCORCHING CENTER OF A PRISON RIOT! YOU feel the savage frenzy of 4000 caged humans! YOU see the horror of the wolf pack on a vengeance kick! YOU sweat out every second with tortured hostages! YOU rock with the impact of brute force against bullets! See more »Parents Guide:
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Amongst the cast were actor Neville Brand, a decorated army veteran of WW II who earned a Silver Star in the Allied European campaign; actor Leo Gordon, another combat veteran, who had served 5 years in San Quentin (armed robbery) ;and then-production assistant Sam Peckinpah, whose father, Denver Peckinpah, was a widely known and respected law-and-order judge in northern California (and whose name alone was enough to get the warden to allow the film to be shot in Folsom State Prison). See more »Goofs
When the state police force the convicts back into the prison by launching a barrage of tear gas at them, the police move forward, into the area being bombarded. The convicts are overcome by the gas, but the police aren't - even though they're not wearing gas masks and are enshrouded by the same gas the convicts are. See more »Quotes
Warden Reynolds: I promise you no harm will come to you during this conversation. Guard! These are my instructions. Dunn is to be allowed to come into this yard and return to 11 without interference.See more »
Crazy Credits
The following acknowledgment appears after the opening credits: "We wish to thank Mr. Richard A. McGee and his staff of the California Department of Corrections, Warden Heinze, Associate Warden Ryan, Correctional officers and the inmates of Folsom Prison for their co-operation." See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
28 February 1954 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Les révoltés de la cellule 11 See more »Filming Locations:
Folsom State Prison - 300 Prison Road, Represa, California, USAEdit
Box Office
Budget:
$298,780 (estimated)Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1Contribute to This Page
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Several prison inmates, to protest brutal guards, substandard food, overcrowding and barely livable conditions, stage an uprising, in which most of the inmates join, and take several guards hostage. Negotiations between the inmates and prison officials are stymied, however, by politicians interfering with the prison administration, and by dissension and infighting in the inmates' own ranks.
The producer Walter Wanger (known for Ford's "Stagecoach" and Hitchcock's "Foreign Correspondent") had recently been in prison for shooting his wife's lover, and his experience there motivated this production. The film was shot on location at Folsom State Prison with real inmates and guards playing background roles.
"Riot in Cell Block 11" was the first film work for Sam Peckinpah, who was hired as a third assistant casting director by Don Siegel. Wanger and Siegel would team up again two years later for "Invasion of the Body Snatchers".
The Criterion release is a must-have, with plenty of background information on those involved, the inspiration, related writings and an excellent audio commentary from a noted film historian.