If The Warden Didn't Like Prisoners Stinking Up Their Cells'? - Escape from Alcatraz (1979) Discussion

I thought he said "sticking up for themselves"

reply

[–] Rytman 11 years ago

That doesn't even make sense if that what was said. So, if that's the case, when another prisoner comes at you with a shank, you're just supposed to stand there and get stabbed to death??

Of course if he did say "stinking up their cells", that doesn't make sense either, considering the whole "shower twice a week" thing.

reply

[–] mitchconn 11 years ago

He said "stinking up their cells" Why do you think Morris was hosed down? He was probably in that solitary cell for a couple of weeks for "fighting".

reply

[–] Rytman 11 years ago

Yeah, that's what I said to begin with.

Although as I originally stated also, why did he only let them shower 2 times a week if "stinking up their cells" was a big no-no?

reply

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

He says that as justification for spraying him with the firehose.

reply

[–] jb1002 10 years ago

That scene was total Hollywood. When I toured the place back in the mid-80s, the guide indicated that prisoners were never hosed down like that.

reply

[–] Mattc164 (603) 2 years ago

Of course the guide would say that. I’ve known prisoners. They aren't exactly treated kindly in prison. A hosing down would be the least inhumane thing done to them.

reply

[–] gabby_bm 10 years ago

Well it's not like they're doing anything remarkably stinky. Hell, back then it was common enough to hear "bath day on Saturday" and such things. Daily washings in civilian life wasn;t all that common either. A bi-weekly shower was probably about standard back then.

We're obviously more paranoid about germs and odor-offense these days.

Botany Bay? Bought on Ebay?!! Oh NO!!!

reply

[–] Rytman 10 years ago

They were working jobs everyday, probably working out in the gym or yard once a day too, etc.

In prison, or in a prison that size, I could see showering every other day. But when that took place? It wasn't like it was supposed to have been the turn of the century to where it was common to wash only once a week, especially since The Warden was so meticulous about everything else.

reply

[–] gabby_bm 10 years ago

Not that i was around back then, but even in the 70's it was rare to have more than two baths a week- and we were some dirty, stinky kids. I recall in the movie "Tucker: The man and his Dream", Preston Tucker gets soaked by champagne and remarks to the cameras "I usually don't take my bath 'til Saturday!".

Now I'm not saying they couldn;t have used more frequent showers, but I still think that twice a week was more of a standard back then while today it seems very uncommon with our daily grooming rituals.

And maybe it's just my perception, but there's something about the sea air that would be beneficial in masking odors and perhaps even keeping odors to more of a minimum (not to be confused with the stank that occurs when at sea for weeks and months at a time).

Maybe some of our more geriatric posters on these boards could shed some light on their bathing rituals back in the 50's and 60's. But I don;t think my family's regimen was that different than others back then.

Botany Bay? Bought on Ebay?!! Oh NO!!!

reply

[–] Rytman 10 years ago

Thing is it wasn't just about the prisoners hygiene; It was more about The Warden and his rules. If you'll recall when he's giving Morris the rundown he says "You'll shave once a day, you'll get your haircut once a month."

The 2 showers a week thing just didn't fit into the character, IMO.

reply

[–] gabby_bm 10 years ago

I would agree with that. It seems it has a lot more to do with routine and he probably wanted to install as many aspects of routine as he could in order to make the Rock as 'ritualistic" as possible.

According to English, that place was just "...one long count" and I'm sure these other routines just added to that dehumanizing aspect.

Botany Bay? Bought on Ebay?!! Oh NO!!!

reply

[–] jefgg 10 years ago

I saw a documentary that mentioned that convicts in Texas state penitentiaries had to purchase deodorants with their own money so many could not buy it. I usually care little about the rights of convicts. But that sounded a little crude.

reply

[–] ronenfe 9 years ago

You can take a shower once or twice a week and still not stink. Many people do it today, it's normal.

reply

[–] Rytman 9 years ago

Not any people I know. "Once a week"? That's nasty.

reply

[–] gribfritz2 7 years ago

Not possible. You can soak yourself in perfume and cologne and rub piles of deodorant all over to mask the stink, but underneath, you stink. Well, technically, the waste that certain bacteria leave on you stinks.

reply

[–] ronenfe (1) a year ago

You can come and smell me and see i smell the same, and I don't use any perfumes.

reply