There's no mistaking that a lot of us have a perception of Alan Alda as "a nice guy with great intentions" and that a lot of people still think of him only as Hawkeye Pierce. If they saw "The Glass House" and certain other movies with Alda,they would not believe their eyes! From the first scene of Alda and the other prisoners,plus the new guard and veteran,riding in a bus to the Utah State prison,you know this is not going to be pleasant. Johnathan Page (Alda)has his life torn apart when a drunk driver hits his wife,while she crosses the street with their baby's (thankfully empty)stroller.
Page thinks his wife's been killed (she hasn't) and he attacks the driver,he strikes him and the driver falls and cracks his head open killing him. A gruesome scene,given how we're used to seeing Alan. After arriving he and the others are processed and photographed. While getting their showers,other male prisoners watch them,including soon to be enemy Slocum (Vic Morrow)the ring leader.
The truth hasn't really sunk in for Page and it's most obvious when Slocum and crew try to strong arm him to accept their "protection". Page refuses and Slocum isn't pleased and basically tells Jonathan without words that he's made an enemy. Page is tapped to work in the prison pharmacy with a man named Lennox (Billy Dee Williams)who's serving for life. (Despite being a TV movie,Williams utters a swear you "never" hear on TV,now that's gutsy)
The new guard who rode up with Page is shocked but not completely surprised at what he finds going on there. A veteran guard is crooked as can be and doesn't care what the prisoners do,including killing each-other. He and Slocum have an arrangement. This arrangement is kept record of in small book by another prisoner,who fearing for his life,hands it off to Page.
There's many a disturbing scene,for 70s TV,including a scalding of a prisoner with a vat of soup,a stabbing,a gang rape of the youngest prisoner & his later suicide. Then there's the climactic chase when Slocum and his fellow prisoners chase after Page through the prison halls (after the crooked guard opens their cells for them). It's incredible to see Alda in a role where he actually,physically fights back! I won't spoil it any further but anyway you can find to see this movie,do it! If you don't like scenes like the ones I've described,it may be best to stay clear. Some of them even unnerved me. A great example of what a great writer Truman Capote was.
10 stars all the way.(END)
Page thinks his wife's been killed (she hasn't) and he attacks the driver,he strikes him and the driver falls and cracks his head open killing him. A gruesome scene,given how we're used to seeing Alan. After arriving he and the others are processed and photographed. While getting their showers,other male prisoners watch them,including soon to be enemy Slocum (Vic Morrow)the ring leader.
The truth hasn't really sunk in for Page and it's most obvious when Slocum and crew try to strong arm him to accept their "protection". Page refuses and Slocum isn't pleased and basically tells Jonathan without words that he's made an enemy. Page is tapped to work in the prison pharmacy with a man named Lennox (Billy Dee Williams)who's serving for life. (Despite being a TV movie,Williams utters a swear you "never" hear on TV,now that's gutsy)
The new guard who rode up with Page is shocked but not completely surprised at what he finds going on there. A veteran guard is crooked as can be and doesn't care what the prisoners do,including killing each-other. He and Slocum have an arrangement. This arrangement is kept record of in small book by another prisoner,who fearing for his life,hands it off to Page.
There's many a disturbing scene,for 70s TV,including a scalding of a prisoner with a vat of soup,a stabbing,a gang rape of the youngest prisoner & his later suicide. Then there's the climactic chase when Slocum and his fellow prisoners chase after Page through the prison halls (after the crooked guard opens their cells for them). It's incredible to see Alda in a role where he actually,physically fights back! I won't spoil it any further but anyway you can find to see this movie,do it! If you don't like scenes like the ones I've described,it may be best to stay clear. Some of them even unnerved me. A great example of what a great writer Truman Capote was.
10 stars all the way.(END)