Favorite Prison Movies (3 Viewers)

[lancer]

On a different, non-military bent, how about prison based movies?
Shawshank Redemption
Birdman of Alcatraz
White Heat
The Glass House
American Me
There are a million more -- Al

 

[FirstLegion]

On a different, non-military bent, how about prison based movies?
Shawshank Redemption
Birdman of Alcatraz
White Heat
The Glass House
American Me
There are a million more -- Al

"Caged Heat" of course. Birth of a genre!

 

[theBaron]

"Cool Hand Luke"

And, Woody Allen's "Take the Money and Run".

 

[DCN1898]

1. American Me
2 The Green Mile
3. Cool Hand Luke
4. Papillon
5. Andersonville. (Both military and Prison)

 

[jazzeum]

For me the only one is the Shawshank Redemption. Best ever. Throw away the key.

 

[DCN1898]

For me the only one is the Shawshank Redemption. Best ever. Throw away the key.

I liked the Green Mile because it showed most of the guards as good people doing a job. Coming from that line of work, I get tired of seeing the evil/corrupt/incompetent guards all of the time.

 

[Rob]

Shawshank
White heat
Scum
Pardon us
McVicar

And for the prison/military cross over;

Great Escape
Colditz

Rob

 

[Scott]

I don't like prison movies but here's a old one that's now on DVD

Brute Force (1947)with Burt Lancaster. Big riot/battle in the end.

 

[lancer]

Some really great films being named. Have to agree about Shawshank as best ever in the genre. It is close to, if not actually (depends on day of week) my favorite movie ever. Brute Force and Green Mile are two other classics. And how do you top Cool Hand Luke? All one can do is say "We're not worthy". -- Al

 

[Spitfrnd]

This is certainly not my favorite genre although it is hard not to like such well done classics like Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, Cool Hand Luke, Papillon and the best military version, The Great Escape.

The one I prefer to watch most often however is the original Longest Yard, with a very nice performance by Burt Renyolds. Ed Lauter (Captain Knauer) nearly steals the show as the ostensibly stereotypical bad guard captain that gradually lets his mind accept the potential goodness in his criminal charges. James Hampton is great as Caretaker, Eddie Albert is delightful as a despicable, oily, warden type and Richard Kiel, Bob Tessier, Charles Tyner, Michael Conrad, and Harry Caesar do much to make you feel you are in prison. Of course, Ray Nitschke fits the bill nicely as the toughest, meanest linebacker in football… The remake was a rather pathetic insult to the original.

 

[lancer]

This is certainly not my favorite genre although it is hard not to like such well done classics like Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, Cool Hand Luke, Papillon and the best military version, The Great Escape.

The one I prefer to watch most often however is the original Longest Yard, with a very nice performance by Burt Renyolds. Ed Lauter (Captain Knauer) nearly steals the show as the ostensibly stereotypical bad guard captain that gradually lets his mind accept the potential goodness in his criminal charges. James Hampton is great as Caretaker, Eddie Albert is delightful as a despicable, oily, warden type and Richard Kiel, Bob Tessier, Charles Tyner, Michael Conrad, and Harry Caesar do much to make you feel you are in prison. Of course, Ray Nitschke fits the bill nicely as the toughest, meanest linebacker in football… The remake was a rather pathetic insult to the original.

Good call. This is an enjoyable movie. Fit BR to a tee. Lauter was great and I thought the best moment of the film came when he disobeyed the order to shoot BR in the back as he recovered the football. -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

I always loved Papillon. The best scene in the movie is at the end when you see the longing in Dustin Hoffman's eyes. He wants to leave but can't. A terrific acting job and great movie.

Yes, hard to forget the Great Escape, hadn't considered it. In that case, we can't forget Stalag 13.

 

[theBaron]

Yes! I'm with you on "The Longest Yard", on both counts, the original is great, and the remake is lame.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Scott]

I feel that there's a difference between prison movies and POW movies. I see nobody here admits to womens' prison films.

 

[gk5717]

I think Captain Over from the movie Airplane liked prison movies, along with gladiator movies!
Gary

 

[lancer]

I feel that there's a difference between prison movies and POW movies. I see nobody here admits to womens' prison films.

Interesting point. I have seen a couple of good ones but the only title I can remember is I Want To Live, which was a bio pic based on a true life. -- Al

 

[mikemiller1955]

Nobody has mentioned...

Murder In The First...

Kevin Bacon, Christian Slater, William H. Macy and Gary Oldman...

an all star cast with a terrific plot about a young man's life destroyed...

also Midnight Express...

both great ones...definitely eye openers...

One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest...maybe not a prison movie per say...but definitely on lockdown with an all star cast again...Jack Nicholson, Scatman Caruthers, Louise Flethcer, Danny Devito, Christopher Lloyd and Brad Dourif...

 

[lancer]

I always loved Papillon. The best scene in the movie is at the end when you see the longing in Dustin Hoffman's eyes. He wants to leave but can't. A terrific acting job and great movie.

Yes, hard to forget the Great Escape, hadn't considered it. In that case, we can't forget Stalag 13.

Must also add Rescue Dawn to the POW list. It's a good one. Grand Illusion is a POW classic and there was a good one about Colditz whose title eludes me. -- Al

 

[Scott]

Jail and movies...

I remember thinking Alfred Hitchcock was looking old and sad at his award ceremony until....

American Film Institute Salute to Alfred Hitchcock (1979) - transcript


"........I share my award, as I have my life, with her. Now let me share something with those promising young people who have earned their Alfred Hitchcock Fellowships. When I was no more than six years of age, I did something that my father considered worthy of reprimand. I don't recall what
transgression it was – at the age of six, it could have hardly involved
a serving girl!

Whatever, father sent me to the local police station with a note. The
officer on-duty read it and locked me in a jail cell for five minutes,
saying "This is what we do to naughty boys."

I have, ever since, gone to any lengths to avoid arrest and confinement.

To you, young people, my message is "stay out of jail"!

Some day, one of you may be standing here, with this American Film
Institute Award – that's what they do to good little boys!

Good evening!!!

 

[jazzeum]

Papillon is on tonight on TCM for those who may be interested.