The Other Side of Hell

I have seen on Amazon in reviews about The Book, the shoe leather treatment, that commentators Believe that Farview staff were convicted of Murder and that the Hospital was shut down. No one was ever Convicted of a Crime although some were Charged. Farview continued to Operate in Pennsylvania as a hospital for the Criminally Insane (a Forensic facility) until it was Given to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections in the 1990s to become SCI Waymart. It continued to Function with about 200 beds as a facility for Mentally Ill DOC inmates. Prior to that it served DOC inmates but also took inmates from County Jails who were considered "too Dangerous" for the Forensic facilities at Norristown, Mayview, and Franklin. Often these people had been Charged but not Convicted or sentenced, ie: unable to stand trial by reason of insanity (incompetent). But it also took Sentenced county prisoners who were Mentally Ill. The problem at Farview was essentially that it was Controlled by the Security Officials (law enforcement), not the Treatment Staff, and throughout its life as a State Hospital this conflict for Control raged. Technically ,all the prisoners (patients) were Involved with the Criminal Justice system, Sometimes as today, for Criminalized minor manifestations of their Mental Illnesses. Like most State Hospitals it probably had good wards, and Bad Wards where the atrocities took Place. The books, Cold Storage and The Shoe Leather Treatment, plus the movie The Other Side Of Hell, helped expose these conditions hidden from the Public's View. Now we need to start Looking into State Prisons and county jails where the Criminalized Mentally Ill are being warehoused without any claim to Providing Treatment or a medical model of Staffing. Farview is happening Everywhere.

Imagine a darker, bleaker variation on One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and you have The Other Side of Hell. Both films are well-made and powerful, but sadly this one has faded into obscurity, never released on home video or streaming. As of this writing, I had to watch the film on YouTube in poor quality, though even then, the impact of the performances and story shine through.

While there's nothing graphic in the film, the atrocities depicted are still harrowing for the viewer, and Alan Arkin gives one of his best performances as the disturbed but persevering Frank Dole. Though long and rarely cheery, the story never drags and is well-paced. Given the poor quality of the recording I saw, I cannot judge the cinematography too much. I can only imagine how much more impact-ful this movie would be with clearer picture and sound.

The film deserves more attention and a decent release so more people can watch it.

Hi there, The movie, the Other Side of Hell, originally aired on NBC. Another title in the works had been Escape from Hell. It is actually a true life story of a man named Bill Thomas. Everyone involved in the shooting of the movie was quite surprised at the end when the disclaimer came on and said that the movie was not based on real events. The insane asylum was in Pennsylvania. Bill went crazy because, at his father's death bed, he asked him for forgiveness (of what I never found out), and his father told him he would never forgive him and then died. Bill went around trying to talk to the dead at funerals to get a message to his father. He realized he was sick and needed help so he confessed to the murder of a girl. He ended up in Fairview State Mental Hospital and was there for nine years before he escaped using the keys he found. After the movie was released, S.L. Stebel (not sure of spelling) wrote a biography entitled "The Shoe Leather Treatment" published by J.P. Tarcher. The Shoe Leather treatment referred to the term the guards used in the hospital/prison when the patients misbehaved. Basically they were kick and beaten half to death. I will look and see if we have any copies of the Other Side of Hell at home any more, though I doubt it. If so, I will post back to the site. NBC might be a good place to look otherwise. Hope this information helps y'all.

Kayderr I read your review and although I never saw the movie, my father worked in Farview in the late 50s early 60s. Unfortunately, he passed in 1995, however, I do know that he had made friends with alot of patients/inmates. One man painted a beautiful portrait of my sister from a snapshot photo. Another made him a frame, using wooden matchsticks, he also made my Dad a battleship out of matchsticks! Yet another made my mother a pocketbook out of soft pack empty cigarette packs. All items were of extraordinary quality. I'm sorry I cannot be of more help.

Never heard of this great movie, no doubt as it was a tv movie. Very long film but doesn't feel it, a great thoughtful watch. Not sure if title refers to what's playing out in his mind and then he enters a new kind of hell in institution. Very little humour but engrossing all the way. Arkin keeps u watching, one nudge away from going over the edge himself. I liked the warmth he shows other inmates at times, everyone deserves respect no matter how far gone they are. I've never understood why people are mean or brutal like this, but sadly it still goes on. Heads up for Magnum alum TJ I think, nice to see him. Glad I found this, big fan of prison type films. Highly recommend this movie. One little thing I found a bit fake, shoe-shining scenes looked very unreal, actors clearly not landing blows, but it was made for tv. A bit of a hidden gem all told.