Riot in Cell Block 11

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Claudio C Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954) A Downbeat Social Problem (11,592 – 06 Apr 2025 – by Claudio Carvalho) There is a wave of riots in American prisons. One night, at a state prison, the inmate leader James V. Dunn (Neville Brand) lures the rookie guard Monroe (Paul Frees), subdues him and leaves his cell. He releases all the inmates in cell block 11 and they capture the three other guards. Dunn and the dangerous Crazy Mike Carnie (Leo Gordon) are the leaders and demand better conditions in the prison to Warden Reynolds (Emile Meyer), who intimately agrees with their demand. They say that first offenders are mixed with dangerous and insane criminals; there are brutal guards; the quality of the food is low; they want to work to spend their time; and the block is overcrowded. Dunn asks for the press and threatens to kill the four guards. However, the governor sends Commissioner Haskell (Frank Faylen) to control the situation, but he fails and almost dies. Soon there are other riots in two other blocks and five other guards are held prisoners of the inmates, but the National Guard controls the new riots. Now the deal of the inmates depends on politicians, since the warden and the governor have signed up the document. “Riot in Cell Block 11” (1954) is a film noir directed by Don Siegel that exposes a downbeat social problem, the conditions of prisons. The ork of Don Siegel is amazing, working in a real prison (Folsom State Prison), with real inmates and guards working as extras. In addition, producer Walter Wanger and actor Leo Gordon had served in prison. Last but not the least, this is the first work of Sam Peckinpah as Don Siegel assistant. My vote is seven. Title (Brazil): “Rebelião no Presídio” (“Riot in the Prison”) My Blog: https://maniacosporfilme.wordpress.com/ Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/14/25 Full Review Audience Member Released in 1954, Riot in Cell Block 11 is an homage to liberal theories of humane treatment of prisoners as opposed to punitive treatment - an approach dating back to reformer Dorothea Dix in the mid-19th century. Prison Ward Reynolds is a proponent of humane treatment but is squashed and scorned by the state prison bureaucracy. Sure enough, a riot breaks out and he is vindicated. The movies incorporates actual prisoners in the riot scenes which gives it grit it might not otherwise have. Kudos to the filmmakers for this move. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review delysid d Badass Oldies Movies that takes into the world of 50s prison riots! Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/09/18 Full Review Audience Member Dated prison drama must have seemed raw and fresh back in 1954. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Not bad for a confined space flick, but outside of that, its kind of iffy. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member One of the most ambitious--and rewarding--prison riot films in cinematic history, with no grit spared. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Riot in Cell Block 11

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