Riot in Cell Block 11

This 1954 drama, inspired by the genuine poor conditions and upsurge in violent protests in prisons across the U.S. in the 1950s, opens with a newsreel-like prologue before settling into a fictional story of a carefully planned riot in the punishment block of an overcrowded penitentiary. Neville Brand, a real-life war hero who made a career out of playing Hollywood villains, stars as James Dunn, the ringleader and a convicted killer. Dunn is more restrained than his fellow inmates (the guards being held as hostages are in constant danger of retribution). The low-budget thriller turns out to be quite a powder keg of a picture, with director Don Siegel (most famous for his gritty Clint Eastwood collaborations) delivering both a hard-edged portrait of a desperate situation and an intelligent engagement with serious reform issues such as overcrowding, violence, and lack of education and training programs. Much of the film was shot on location at Folsom Prison, with guards and prisoners serving as extras and advisors, lending the production added authenticity. Siegel is clearly sympathetic to the convicts without whitewashing their crimes or their violent nature (although the technology has changed, 60 years later the topic still remains relevant). Presented in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo set, extras include an audio commentary, audio excerpts from two books on director Siegel, and audio clips from a 1953 radio documentary on prison conditions. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)