Cuatro convictos

John Resko (Ben Gazzara) is on death row in Sing Sing. He's preparing to be executed. In December 1930, he killed a shopkeeper over a teddy bear he wanted for his daughter's Christmas present. At the last minute, he gets a reprieve and his sentence is commuted to life in prison.

Some of the notable cast includes Ray Walston, Vincent Price, Rod Steiger, and Sammy Davis Jr. This is somewhat ripped from the headlines writing. The first half is compelling but the movie loses steam over time. It's not really a dramatic story. The drama is packed into the first half. Even the escape attempts don't have real tension. It is however a compelling life story if not a compelling movie story.