| Riot in Cell Block 11 | |
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Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Don Siegel |
| Produced by | Walter Wanger |
| Written by | Richard Collins |
| Starring | Neville Brand Leo Gordon |
| Music by | Herschel Burke Gilbert |
| Cinematography | Russell Harlan |
| Editing by | Bruce B. Pierce |
| Distributed by | Allied Artists |
| Release date(s) | 1954 |
| Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Riot in Cell Block 11 is a 1954 drama film starring Neville Brand and Leo Gordon. It was directed by Don Siegel, based on the screenplay by Richard Collins.
Contents |
One night, several prison inmates take guards prisoner to protest brutal conditions in their prison. They then make their demands known to the Warden. A liberal-minded administrator who has complained for many years about the same conditions. James V. Dunn, the prisoners' leader, meets the press outside the cell block and makes demands that they will no longer tolerate the brutal guards, substandard food, overcrowding and barely liveable conditions.
The next day inmates from two other blocks start a riot but they are forced back into the cell blocks by the state police. Negotiations between the inmates and prison officials are stymied by the state politicians who do not want to make any concessions.
Meanwhile factions within the prisoners begin to vie for power and control within the rebellious cell block. At the same time, the state police are given the go ahead to blow a hole in the wall to end the siege. But the inmates inside create a human shield by tying the hostages to the interior wall.
Eventually the governor agrees to sign petition from the prisoners. The riot ends when the inmates see the next-day newspapers saying that they had won. But it's a pyrrhic victory for the leader, Dunn. Two weeks later he is called to the warden's office. The state legislature had overturned the Governor's signature thus repudiating all the prisoners' demands.
The Warden tells Dunn that he will stand trial for leading the riot and taking hostages. Charges that will mostly likely mean an additional 30-year sentence. But the Warden, who explains that he is to be replaced, tells Dunn that he did get a small victory, the mentally-ill inmates are to be moved to asylums and some prisoners will be paroled. The warden tells Dunn that his actions were front page news which may bring about some good.
The downbeat ending is indicative of the realistic social commentary prevalent throughout the film.
The film was shot on location at Folsom State Prison with real inmates and guards playing background roles.[1] Siegel agreed to direct the movie over eight weeks for a flat fee of $10,000.[2]
Riot in Cell Block 11 was the first film work for Sam Peckinpah. Peckinpah was hired as a third assistant casting director by Don Siegel. Reportedly, the warden was reluctant to allow the filmmakers to work at Folsom Prison until he was introduced to Peckinpah. The warden knew his influential family from Fresno, California and immediately became cooperative.
Siegel's location work and his use of actual prisoners as extras made a lasting impression on Peckinpah's later career. He would work as an assistant to Siegel on four additional films including Private Hell 36 (1954), An Annapolis Story (1955), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) and Crime in the Streets (1956).[3]
Upon its initial release in the United Kingdom the film was banned.[4] It is currently rated a '15' under the BBFC.
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