When the story begins, Warden Carmichael (Tom Tully) is kidnapped by a group of cons who are escaping from his prison. Along the way, the desperate men pick up an innocent guy (John Derek) and force him to drive them. Well, soon there's an accident and several of the convicts are killed. The innocent guy has survived but is unconscious and the remaining con tries to run away with a suitcase in tow. The Warden and the con exchange gunfire...the con is killed and the suitcase, it turns out, is stuffed with $100,000! On impulse, the Warden decides to keep the money...and leaves the innocent guy to take the rap for supposedly helping in the escape. The problem is...that down deep...the Warden is torn apart by his actions. But is it enough to get him to admit the truth? Apparently not, as he even allows the innocent guy to get sentenced to death for the botched escape!
The story is much more interesting and complex than I described and the acting is spot on. I think with big name stars, it wouldn't have worked as well and having some old reliable character actors instead star in the film was a smart choice. Overall, a very gripping and successful 'small' picture...one that is nothing like any other prison film I have ever seen.
The story is much more interesting and complex than I described and the acting is spot on. I think with big name stars, it wouldn't have worked as well and having some old reliable character actors instead star in the film was a smart choice. Overall, a very gripping and successful 'small' picture...one that is nothing like any other prison film I have ever seen.