Time in Prison
Or, "Life in The Big House". The prison film has proved to be a popular subject for cinema and many superb titles are represented in this canon of work. Here the human spirit is often shown to thrive in what are generally hostile and oppressive settings. There are the tales of the 'wrongly accused man' protesting his innocence, the 'race against time' thrillers to save the condemned from execution, and the 'prison as hell' where your worst nightmares have come true. There are also the comedies where the familiar prison 'cliches' are parodied, and the science-fiction variants that show the possible shape of things to come...
Now, go directly to jail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.
Pictured: Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins in "The Shawshank Redemption".
Escape From New York (1981)
7.2/10
Director: John Carpenter
Starring: Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Sea...
1997. New York City is a maximum security prison. When the President's plane crash lands within it's walls, he is taken prisoner by criminals demandin... Read more
McVicar (1980)
6.8/10
Director: Tom Clegg
Starring: Roger Daltrey, Adam Faith
The Who Films present this portrayal of John McVicar (Roger Daltrey), whose real-life escape from the high-security wing of a British prison led to hi... Read more
Scum (1980)
7.6/10
Director: Alan Clarke
Starring: Ray Winstone, Mick Ford, John Judd, Phil Daniels
A controversial and vivid story of the violence and mindless cruelty inside a government borstal. The brutality of the officers creates pressure on th... Read more
Escape from Alcatraz ( Blu-ray ) (1979)
7.6/10
Director: Don Siegel
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Fred Ward, Jack Thibeau, Patrick McGoohan, Roberts Blossom
Clint Eastwood and director Don Siegel re-team for their fifth film in this fascinating account of the only three men ever to escape from the infamous... Read more
Prisoner Cell Block H - Volume 1 (1979)
Starring: Elspeth Ballantyne, Sheila Florance, Val Lehman, Fiona Spence
Attaining cult status around the world, this Australian series set in a women's prison was a gritty no-nonsense drama that tackled issues such as homo... Read more
Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
7.6/10
Director: Don Siegel
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Fred Ward, Jack Thibeau, Patrick McGoohan, Roberts Blossom
Clint Eastwood and director Don Siegel re-team for their fifth film in this fascinating account of the only three men ever to escape from the infamous... Read more
Midnight Express ( Blu-ray ) (1978)
7.6/10
Director: Alan Parker
Starring: Bo Hopkins, Brad Davis, John Hurt, Randy Quaid
From director Alan Parker ('Birdy', 'Mississippi Burning') and based on a true story, this hyper-violent and grim portrait of American student Billy H... Read more
Midnight Express (1978)
7.6/10
Director: Alan Parker
Starring: Randy Quaid, John Hurt, Brad Davis, Bo Hopkins
From director Alan Parker ('Birdy', 'Mississippi Burning') and based on a true story, this hyper-violent and grim portrait of American student Billy H... Read more
Return of the Street Fighter (1974)
6.4/10
Director: Shigehiro Ozawa
Starring: Sonny Chiba
Martial arts sensation Sonny Chiba is back! Having well earned his reputation as a man who gets things done, he is hired by a gang to silence a squeal... Read more
The Longest Yard (1974)
7.1/10
Director: Robert Aldrich
Starring: Burt Reynolds, Eddie Albert, Ed Lauter, Mike Conrad
A.k.a. 'The Mean Machine'. In this hilarious, rough-and -tumble comedy Burt Reynolds is a former American football pro who winds up behind bars after... Read more