User Reviews

Normally I don't like when films start with a huge event that rushes the viewer into the plot before getting a chance to know the characters. However, in the case of this Columbia prison drama, it was necessary because it's a minor development in the real plot line concerning prisoner Brian Donlevy.

He is seen in the first scene visiting the warden, and then the camera flashes out to the yard where an obvious escape attempt is in progress, resulting in him pulling a knife on the warden. It's not until after the escape attempt has been forwarded that we learn that Donlevy is actually an agent planted in the prison, his mission unclear, even after Jacqueline Welles, claiming to be his sister, shows up to visit him and probably gets a slap across the face.

The whispering going on between various prisoners, particularly Donlevy, makes the dialogue awesome difficult to hear clearly. That made this more of a mystery than a prison action film all those things do become clearer as the film goes on when the whispering ceases. Next to Warner Brothers, Columbia was heavily involved in making films with gritty subject matter, and this one definitely has a tough shell. But this plot, like tough shells, is a difficult nut to crack, and in struggling to hear some of the more quiet scenes, I nearly ended up throwing the whole nut away.

I have this film since twenty years now in my vaults, and I only realize that no one has commented it yet. What a surprise. It's another prison movie, yes, but an efficient one. I won't repeat the plot line, some one has done it for me. But Brian Donlevy gives here a very effective performance as an undercover cop trying to find criminals. Exciting little film made by a director rather known for his comedies, Abbot and Costello's ones, for instance.

I guess that there are so many unknown features like this one, and which will remain this way.

What a shame. But let's cross our fingers.