MovieChat Forums > Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954) Discussion > An Underated Gem

An Underated Gem

posted 15 years ago by 42ndStreetMemories
10 replies | jump to latest

Hard to believe that there haven't been any postings on this gem. The Republic VHS is available on eBay relatively cheaply.

The casting is so appealing that this is a must-see for all classic movie fans of the 50s. Three hardcase character actors Neville Brand, Leo Gordon and Emile Meyer - all excellent - and Whit Bissell is the prison guard at the core of the riot. Hardcore, gritty b&w direction by Siegel is a case study on how to maximize a low budget when making a film.

The film hits the ground running, after a quasi-documentary opening that sets up the action properly, and we are right into the riot. 80 minutes of non-stop mayhem all wonderfully orchestrated by Siegel without any ridiculous flashbacks to the girl-I-left-behind, no unrealistic prison escapes, no wrongly accused con, nobody studying birds.

Peter Bogdonovich wrote in the early 70s, pre-Shawshank, that this was the best prison film ever and I feel dollar for dollar rivals Shawshank.

The filming of the film would make a great story in itself. IMDB covers some of it in the Trivia section along with some inaccuracies on the cast and crew.

Hopefully we'll get some postings going on this classic.

Jerry

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 42ndStreetMemories 14 years ago

Well at least there's two of us interested in the film. Hopefully it gets a screening on TCM some time to stimulate interest.

One correction to your post.....producer Walter Wanger was incarcerated for a brief time at a minimum security prison farm but the experience still inspired him to outline "Riot". It was co-star Leo Gordon who had served time at San Quentin and had to use a separate entrance into Folsom for additional security check.

Wanger's wife, by the way, was actress Joan Bennett.

Jerry

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Errington_92 12 years ago

Riot in Cell Block 11 fell short for me as a viewer. It did not convey its intended message well. At times we are spoon fed statistics about the poor quality of the prisons yet it does not show enough of this to provoke sympathy for the prisoners. If there had been more of a build up to the riots rather than an opening montage then it may have been a better film.

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not".

[–] franzkabuki 10 years ago

"It does not show enough of this to provoke sympathy for the prisoners".

But that's the thing - prisoners deserve better conditions regardless if they're "sympathetic" or not (and you can bet yer ass most inmates aren't).

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] marktayloruk (2378) 2 years ago

I hope Dunn was acquitted!

[–] wtl471629 12 years ago

I agree this movie is underrated and hopefully it will be shown on tv in the future. The cast is very good especially Neville Brand, Leo Gordon and Eemile Meyer.

[–] Woodyanders 8 years ago

Agreed. Very powerful film with first-rate performances by Neville Brand and Leo Gordon as the head cons in charge of the riot.

I am the Duke of IMDb bio writers! I am A#1!

[–] WarpedRecord 8 years ago

It's a very well directed film with strong performances. 7/10 stars from me.

[–] jdforyou1983 (1469) 3 years ago

Definitely an underrated gem