In this adaptation of a book by ex-con Malcolm Braly, a convicted murderer (Heard) takes cigarettes on credit from another top-dog inmate (Waites), but finds himself in trouble when he can’t pay back in time. Meanwhile, other prisoners collude with guards, fight for their release, or secretly plan their escape in this multi-character big house drama. Using a naturalistic approach that combines absurd humor with tragedy, director Raphael Silver (husband of legendary indie filmmaker Joan Micklin Silver, who produced) contributed a highly respectable and memorable entry in the canon of great prison films.
