Every prison throughout the world, whether state or Federal is an enclosed pressure cooker capped by an ever tightening lid of anger, hate and frustration. Within the walls are a collection of unruly, unpredictable, undisciplined gathering of misfits, murderers and anti-social types. For the most part they are watched and guarded so they do not escape their confinement which is the location for the film called " Riot. " Jim Brown stars as Cully Briston with Gene Hackman as Red Fraker. Although, Cully is to be released in a couple of months, 'Red' and his fellow inmates stage a small takeover in the infirmary which spills over to the detention ward. Having little to do with the initial incident, Cully nevertheless becomes part of the escalating situation when he helps his friends. Gerald O'Loughlin, plays one of the more contentious prison guards who has been throwing his weight around for years in the prison, suddenly feigns sickly and fragile in the face of death. Meanwhile, the Warden who has been vacationing, returns and orders the prisoners to cease and desist. As he prepares to send in his Riot-Squads, the prisoners plan on escaping with an Indian guide called Surefoot. (Ben Carruthers) The seconds tick away and the situation becomes hopelessly unmanageable. The Warden, the Guards and the prisoners all await the next turn of events. Strong character drama from Brown, Hackman and Mike Kellin give this feature a realistic aura and one sure to make high drama for the audience. Good Film and one of the best performances for Jim Brown. ****

A small group of prisoners decide to use the pretext of a riot to cover an escape plan. A fine performance by Hackman, in one of his earlier roles - Jim

Brown's gritty realistic portrayal of a reluctant pawn in the escape plan gives proof of the super-stardom he would have achieved, had he kept his off screen affairs in order. The action is non-stop, and screams to an unpredictable conclusion. Fine title song performed by Bill (Righteous Brother) Medley.

Anyone else think it's odd that of all the employees, guards and inmates at the Arizona prison, only Red Fraker (Gene Hackman) knew about an abandoned tunnel dating back to the second World War? I mean really, how does that work?

Which is just one of the many credibility defying ideas in this story of a planned jail break masked by a riot and negotiations for better treatment in the isolation block of the joint. Personally, I never gave it a second thought that these jamokes were ever going to succeed, not with an army of armed guards waiting for anyone to show their face inside or out of the prison yard.

And speaking of that tunnel, whoever did the math on how far it was supposed to come out away from the jail didn't give it very much thought. I just watched a Bowery Boys flick titled "Jail Busters" in which a long time inmate was digging a tunnel for twenty two years and it led right to the warden's office. I think that same guy must have gotten transferred to the lock-up in this picture.

The picture doesn't claim to be based on a true story, though reading some of the viewer comments seems to suggest that it was. If so, I would believe it because the incompetence of the criminal masterminds inside the big house suggested they never had a chance. I sure would like to have sampled some of that home brew raisin jack though.