Riot *** (1969, Jim Brown, Gene Hackman, Ben Carruthers, Mike Kellin) – Classic Movie Review 9113

William Castle, the showman producer of flashy chillers, despatched Gene Hackman and Jim Brown down among the real prisoners of Arizona state jail to film this non-stop, brutal action thriller, Riot (1969), in which a riot in is staged as a cover-up for an escape attempt.

Based on Frank Elli’s non-fiction novel, the yarn centres on the convicts, led by inmate Red Fraker (Hackman), taking over the jail when the warden is away, with Fraker hatching a secret plan to escape with a few other inmates. Fraker asks Cully Briston (Jim Brown) to join the escape plan. The convicts try informers and torture guards, and then there follows shooting, knifing, beatings and so on.

As it is shot on location at Arizona State Prison, we have to wonder what the prisoners who formed the support cast thought of it all. Though it is a riot of violence, nobody could accuse it of being boring. Hackman is outstanding in one of his earlier roles.

Also in the cast are Ben Carruthers, Mike Kellin, Gerald S O’Loughlin, Clifford David, Bill Walker, Jerry Thompson, Ricky Summers and Warden Frank A Eyman.

The film is based on Frank Elli’s non-fiction novel describing a real riot that took place in an Arizona state prison.

Riot is directed by Buzz Kulik, runs 97 minutes, is made by William Castle Productions, is released by Paramount Pictures, is written by James Poe, based on Frank Elli’s non-fiction novel, is shot in Technicolor by Robert B Hauser, is produced by William Castle and is scored by Christopher Komeda.

An edited PG rated version was released in cinemas in 1970.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9113

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