Fortune and Men's Eyes

Cold, grainy picture made in Canada follows naïve drug-user (Wendell Burton, excellent here as he was in "The Sterile Cuckoo") through rigors of prison life. Adapted from John Herbert's autobiographical play, originally performed in Los Angeles with Sal Mineo as producer, the movie is a curiosity piece, what with a sadly outré drag show and the usual homosexual content handled in somewhat sensational manner. Reportedly a troubled production, it is occasionally gripping and intense, yet impossibly downbeat. Several of the key supporting players are very good, and the narrative and scenario are more solid here than in the not-dissimilar "Short Eyes". ** from ****

I saw this in the Cosmo (pre GFT) in Glasgow one afternoon. The original and still the best movie on prison sex. Kept me to the straight and narrow! Powerful, unpleasant, occasionally verging on crudeness. Definitely best viewed after some libation. Not a date movie. Recommended - once.

I saw this film shortly after its release, when I was around 18 years old, and many of the scenes went right over my head. Watching it again now, I am amazed at how many scenes have stuck in my mind (especially the harrowing ending). Although (not surprisingly) dated, and clearly made on a very low budget, this film has a remarkable way of pacing the action and building tension: for instance, the almost-hallucinatory prison Xmas party seems to be going on forever until it suddenly erupts in violence.

In 1971, people were excited (or outraged) about the homosexual scenes, but I think it would be wrong to think that the film is "about" homosexuality. For me, it is about power structures in what Goffmann has called a "total institution". Sexuality, or rather rape, is just another tool to maintain power, along with violence and trade in tobacco and drugs.

It's a raw, brutal and uncomfortable film, and well worth watching.

Smitty (Burton) goes to prison and realize that it place where inmates set each other up, and also a place where there is no women, so a weak prisoners are forced to be sex slaves for tougher prisoners. He shares a cell with a drag queen name Queenie (Greer) and a tough Christian Slater type name Rocky (Hall). Smitty becomes friends with Rocky, not knowing that Rocky wants Smitty to be his lover. Crisp dialogue, well edited scenes, make this film very shocking for 1971. Hall is a standout as Rocky and gives a very icey performance that makes me wonder why he didn't become a big star playing villians in films (only other big work he did was 99 44/100% DEAD in 1974). Burton and Greer is also good, as Burton does a fine job projecting a innocent kid who keep looking at his picture of his girlfriend, knowing life isn't going to be same. Canadian actor Danny Freedman is also effective at the end scene that is another shocker. Don't see this film if you are offended or scared of the subject. But I think it's one of the best film of the 70's. Highly Recommended.

I own Fortune And Men's Eyes and I must say it is a terrific movie.After renting it several times I decided to buy it,and I'm very happy that I did.Smitty(Wendell Burton)is sentenced to six months in prison for smoking pot.While he is in prison he learns what it takes to stay alive.Michael Greer plays Queenie,a drag queen that shares the same cell with Smitty,along with two other homosexuals,Rocky and Mona.I have seen Michael Greer in two other movies,The Gay Decievers(which I also own)and The Rose.It was great to see him without a wig for a change!I think Michael is a great actor.Doing the math from the year he was born,1943,he must be in his fifties now.Rocky is actually the bad guy in the film.He tries to force Smitty into being his lover,and eventually Smitty has to fight back to protect himself.The movie based on homosexuality in prison.Made in 1971,four years before I was born,it is a great classic,maybe not so well known but for sure a great movie.If you have'nt seen it do see it,take my word for it,you will not be disappointed!