The inmates of an overcrowded prison become restless and plan a breakout. It features an impressive cast of familiar faces, led by Lancaster in just his second film, but his is essentially a one-note performance. Cronyn makes an appropriately slimy villain. Women are featured in brief flashbacks, which add little to the film. The corniest flashback features an encounter between Lancaster and a crippled Blyth. The lovely De Carlo is wasted in a cameo role. The script by future director Brooks is not very interesting and Dassin tends towards the melodramatic. On the plus side, the cinematography is crisp and the score by Rozsa is pretty good.
Review of Brute Force
