Pretty obvious how this is going to end, this fairly low budget Eagle Lion crime thriller features professional actors and unprofessional, with real Canon City prison warden Roy Best playing himself. It's a play by play recapture of the real life Canon City prison breakout from just six months before this was released, having occurred before Christmas and New Years.
The film stars Scott Brady. Jeff Corey, Whit Bissell and Bowery Boy Stanley Clements among the prisoners, each getting a background story and chance to show off their dramatic skills. The breakout is quick and intense, and the Colorado winter pretty frigid. Several of the escaped men hold up with the elderly Mabel Paige and Raymond Bond, with Paige unafraid and at one point brandishing a hammer against one of them.
Well directed and written by Crane Wilbur with superb commanding narration by Reed Hadley who takes the viewer on a tour of the prison, introduces them to the major players and sets up a tough mood. This may not have the impact of the recently released "Brute Force", not being nearly as violent, but perhaps in this case, less was more. DeForest Kelley, later of "Star Trek", has a small role in this so keep an eye out for him.
The film stars Scott Brady. Jeff Corey, Whit Bissell and Bowery Boy Stanley Clements among the prisoners, each getting a background story and chance to show off their dramatic skills. The breakout is quick and intense, and the Colorado winter pretty frigid. Several of the escaped men hold up with the elderly Mabel Paige and Raymond Bond, with Paige unafraid and at one point brandishing a hammer against one of them.
Well directed and written by Crane Wilbur with superb commanding narration by Reed Hadley who takes the viewer on a tour of the prison, introduces them to the major players and sets up a tough mood. This may not have the impact of the recently released "Brute Force", not being nearly as violent, but perhaps in this case, less was more. DeForest Kelley, later of "Star Trek", has a small role in this so keep an eye out for him.