Riot

okay, here are what i don't think this movie and its screenplay are good enough: 1) never thought the black prisoners and the white ones could be so united in any prison history 2) the leader of the white prisoner, and the leader of the black ones seemed to respect each other quite well, they also cooperated with each other like brothers. the movie was released in 1969, and probably shot in the year before. do you think in that era and time frame, the blacks could have mixed with the whites so smoothly? they were used to be oil and water, they never could be mixed together, no matter what. 3) the black guy got a thick and high quality cow hide belt, and when he wanted to punch somebody, he just unbelted it from his waist and wrapped around his right fist. are you sure, dude? prisoners could have regular belts around his waists and never considered a dangerous weapon to other inmates and the prisons authorities? if shanks made in plastic or metal are considered deadly weapons, what about the belts? they could also be used as deadly weapons, don't you think? there are so many details that didn't feel all right but you can also let them go if you really need to watch a not quite exciting prison riot film but either a black prisoner's day dream or fantasy.

"Riot" is a very tense film that was apparently based on a book about an actual prison situation that occurred in Minnesota. Oddly, however, "Riot" was filmed in Arizona--about the most un-Minnesota like place you can find! It's also unusual in that the famed horror director, William Castle, produced it.

The film stars Jim Brown and Gene Hackman, but they are not the entire show. In fact, while they clearly are the leads, the real stars are the many prisoners--many of which really were prisoners of the Yuma Correctional facility. It gets very high marks for realism that is missing from most other prison films and must have been seen as a VERY gritty film when it debuted. Flamboyantly gay prisoners, home brewed alcohol, impromptu courts to dispense 'justice' to snitches and a lot of blood are things you really don't see in other more sanitized prison films. Because of that, I highly recommend the film--it's tough, tense and exciting throughout.

Small budget movie,which Gene Hackman's fans might want to see.Its main originality lies in the fact that it does not show life in prison,but the inmates' revenge ,after a few wardens have been held hostages .The prisoners try to fool the prison authorities as they write a petition in order to improve their living conditions in jail while digging a tunnel .But it's many a mile to freedom .Not as good as Siegel's "escape from Alcatraz" (both movies are reportedly true stories).Very violent ,mainly in the second half.

Note:the movie was produced by William Castle with a score by Christopher Komeda.This team worked on "Rosemary's baby" the year before.And "Riot" music resembles that of "Rosemary".Notably,the sequence when the men are walking through the tunnel uses almost the same music as the sequence when Rosemary ,with a knife in her hand,walks through the corridor that leads to the Castevet's apartment.

"Riot" is a decent prison film, produced by William Castle (known as a director of things like "House on Haunted Hill") and directed by Buzz Kulik ('Brian's Song'). It stars Jim Brown, as cool as ever, as inmate Cully Briston, who realizes that the men of the isolation block have taken over that portion of the prison. Led by Red Fraker (Gene Hackman), they intend to pull off an escape, while pretending to the outside world to be petitioning for better conditions.

Ad copy may try to sell this as some kind of action film, but in truth it's more of a drama with some thriller elements. And it's NOT as violent as some people may fear, with some little bits of gore here and there. It doesn't attempt to show the lives of most of these inmates before their "riot". Cully has his misgivings about the whole thing, but gets caught up in it just the same, trying to talk some sense into Red.

The main asset of "Riot" is a degree of realism. It was based on a novel by Frank Elli, which was itself inspired by a real-life riot in a Minnesota prison. It features a number of inmates in supporting roles and bits, and even casts tough-as-nails real-life warden Frank Eyman to basically play himself. While it may not be truly action-packed, it has some great moments, especially the escape scenes near the end which are fraught with tension. The whole thing is professionally packaged, and nicely scored by Christopher Komeda.

Hackman is fun as the confident ringleader, while Brown remains highly watchable in his more even-keeled portrayal as a convict with some principles. Mike Kellin (who would return to the prison genre a decade later with "On the Yard"), Ben Carruthers (as the volatile, violent "Joe Surefoot"), and Clifford David (Beethoven in "Bill & Teds' Excellent Adventure") co-star as various inmates. Gerald S. O'Loughlin is good as a guard who's tried to dominate Cully for years, then turns weak after being used as a hostage.

"Riot" won't take a place as one of the great prison films, but it does entertain solidly for 97 minutes, which is all you can really ask for sometimes.

Seven out of 10.

RIOT is a 1969 shoestring B production that looks like a made for TV time-passer with Jim Brown at the top of his game, and Gene Hackman, fresh from his small but eye-catching part in BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967) on his way up, with stardom assured two years later as copper Popeye Doyle in FRENCH CONNECTION. The two men had already appeared together in THE SPLIT (1968)

Substandard photography does not hurt the film, rather adding to its credibility as a tale about a breakout from a dingy jail with inhuman guards. Good singing from Bill Medley - great voice - as part of somewhat uneven score. Generally effective dialogue ahead of its time by including gay prisoners, shocking ending.

Competent direction from William Castle, who made his name in horror movies but does a competent job with RIOT. 7/10.