''Riot'' is a 1969 American drama film produced by William Castle, directed by Buzz Kulik and starring

Gene Hackman Eugene Allen Hackman (born January 30, 1930) is an American retired actor and former novelist. In a career that has spanned more than six decades, Hackman has won two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, one Screen Actors Guild Award, two BAFTAs ...

and

Jim Brown James Nathaniel Brown (born February 17, 1936) is a former American football player, sports analyst and actor. He played as a fullback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 through 1965. Considered to be one ...

Plot

While the

warden A warden is a custodian, defender, or guardian. Warden is often used in the sense of a watchman or guardian, as in a prison warden. It can also refer to a chief or head official, as in the Warden of the Mint. ''Warden'' is etymologically identic ...

(real-life warden Frank A. Eyman) of a state prison is away, the isolation block erupts and 35 of the most violent criminals (led by

) stage a

riot A riot is a form of civil disorder commonly characterized by a group lashing out in a violent public disturbance against authority, property, or people. Riots typically involve destruction of property, public or private. The property targete ...

and take over their portion of the prison. Cully Briston (Jim Brown), in for five years and awaiting his eventual parole, wants no part of the riot. He impulsively gets involved, defending a prison guard and protecting him from the maniacs in the block.

Cast

Production

The film is based on a non-fiction novel by Frank Elli, which chronicled an actual riot that took place in an Arizona prison. In addition to using real-life warden Frank A. Eyman, the production utilized a number of real-life prisoners as extras. The film was partially shot at the

Yuma Territorial Prison The Yuma Territorial Prison is a former prison located in Yuma, Arizona, United States. Opened on July 1, 1876, and shut down on September 15, 1909. It is one of the Yuma Crossing and Associated Sites on the National Register of Historic Places ...

Release

The film was given a theatrical release in the United States by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

in 1969. The film was given a belated release on VHS by Paramount Home Video in 1993. The film was sub-licensed to Olive Films by Paramount and released on DVD by in 2010.

References

Reviews

Prison Movies review

External links

* * * 1969 films 1969 drama films 1960s prison films American prison drama films Films directed by Buzz Kulik Films scored by Krzysztof Komeda Films with screenplays by James Poe Paramount Pictures films 1960s English-language films 1960s American films {{1960s-drama-film-stub