lchadbou-326-26592 If you see the name Crane Wilbur in the credits, either as writer or director, especially if it is a crime picture, you can be sure that it will be above average. Wilbur used his skills as a veteran actor (going as far back as the silent Perils Of Pauline serial) as an author and later as a director to deepen the quality of the genre work he took on, often through research before shooting, so that the results had more unusual dialogue and a richness of realistic detail. Here he starts off what is basically a standard movie formula by having the prison itself, in this case Folsom, narrate the story! The plot pivots on the contrast between sadistic warden Ted De Corsia who wants to restrict the menu his inmates can eat ("Beans three times a day") and a well meaning new captain of the guard David Brian who believes in psychology and compares the De Corsia character to history's dictators (" You're as much a psychopathic case as any man in here") The treatment also benefits from use of the real Folsom location, touted in the opening (it would later be used again in such as Revolt In The Big House) some nice lensing (the scene where 5 convicts in a cell make plans, after the lights have been turned off early, their faces glimpsed in the dark) and effective musical underscoring by William Lava. If there is a big flaw in the film it's the decision to portray the brutal conditions as something way in the past- the turn of the century, in fact- and to assure the audience at the end with the return of narration that things have now improved, a somewhat false sweetness and light conclusion. If you want to learn more about Wilbur's fascinating career I recommend the biographical article by scholar Brent Walker in the Spring 2011 issue of the publication Noir City. Walker says that Inside The Walls Of Folsom Prison "may be Wilbur's signature work."

sol1218 ***SPOILERS*** Excellent behind bars or prison film narrated by Charles Lung, as the voice of Falsom Prison, on how brutal the US Prison System was at the turn of the 20th Century and how men of consciouses and humanity went as far as risking their careers as well as in some cases their live in order to correct it.Falsom Prison run by the take no BS and give no mercy warden Ben Ricky, Ted de Corsia, has become so untenable for the convicts sent there that they were more then willing to risk their lives, as well as take the lives of others,in making attempts to break out of it. It's when the new second in command Mark Benson, played by future Mister District Attorney David Brian, got there that things started to improve for the prisoners to the point that even the most hardened convicts accepted their being incarnated there as long as they were treated humanely. ***SPOILER ALERT*** It was Warden Rickey who's brutal actions, that he mostly participated in himself, against the prisoners that soon lead to a major prison breakout that cost the lives of some dozen convicts as well as his own. That despite Benson's best efforts in trying to prevent it. It was the soon to be paroled convict Red Pardue, Philip Carey, who touched off this bloody break-out by informing on fellow convict Nick Ferretti, William Campbell, who was about to make a break out that would have, in Parude driving the truck that Ferritti was hiding in, cost him his release. In fact Prude saved Ferretti's, who's in for murder one, life by preventing him from breaking out which would have ended up with him being shot down before he made it to the prison walls or high wire electrified fences. With Warden Ricky instead of putting Pardue in protective custody until his release from prison putting him into the general prison population he ended up getting killed, by a boobie trap explosion, a day before he was t be released from jail.**SPOILERS*** Convict Chuck Daniels, Steve Cochron,who's been planning a break-out for years sees his chance not only to break out of Falsom Prison but get even with those who were responsible for the death of his good friend and fellow convict Red Pardue convicted murderer Ferretti and the two bit white collar hood and official Folsom Prison plumber Tinker, Dick Wesson, who dynamited Pardue to death! All hell breaks loose as Danial & Co. make their escape attempt with warden Ricky instead of defusing the situation actually inflames it. With everything going to pot and the national guard called in to prevent the bloodshed Daniel and a number of his attempted escapees brake into Ferretti and Tinker's cell to exact Justice, prison justice, on them. As things turned out the justice that Daniel's & Co. exacted was to backfire on them as well!It was this failed prison break out that cost the lives of over a dozen prisoners and prison guards, including warden Ricky, that finally got the state of California to put into its prison the reforms that Mark Benson was asking for. Those behind bars in Folsom Prison or any other prison in the country did forfeit their rights as free man and women for the crimes that they committed in being sent there. But by brutalizing them like Warden Ricky did it made them even worse and caused them to takes the kind of actions that unlimitedly ended up not only taking their but innocent persons, convicts and prison guards, lives as well!

climbingivy Inside The Walls Of Folsom Prison is an excellent movie that shows some of the abuses that were practiced on prison inmates back in an earlier time in our history. I saw that this movie was listed on Turner Classic movies and I was thrilled and I could not wait to watch it.I was able to watch the movie this afternoon on Turner Classic Movies.Everything that David Brian is in is excellent.The narrator Charles Lung does a superb job in his narration at the beginning of the flick and at the end of the movie.I have never heard of Charles Lung,but his narration voice is amazing.I was surprised at the number of cast members who were not credited.His was not credited.Does not make any sense to me.The story was terrific and the sets.David Brian is one of my favorite actors.I try to see everything that he is in.I highly recommend this movie.

mackjay2 Here is a case where a cast of solid and interesting actors become the main reason to watch. INSIDE THE WALLS OF FOLSOM PRISON is not in the league of great prison movies like BRUTE FORCE (Dassin, 1947), but it has some singular qualities that will make fans of the prison movie genre want to seek it out. The film opens with the prison speaking--yes, a familiar-voiced narrator speaking as Folsom itself. The intention of the film is a lesson in prison reform. But we are spared any dryly didactic speech-making. The opening sequence is full of super-charged action, as several prisoners carry out a plot to assault guards and take over. Their initial attempt fails, leaving the ringleaders at the mercy of con-hater warden Rickey (a nicely corrosive Ted De Corsia). Rickey is not just intolerant of any resistance from prisoners, he's sadistic and cruel. In a scene reminiscent of BRUTE FORCE, Rickey beats a prisoner (Paul Picerni) to unconsciousness behind the closed door of his office. But there is no Wagner playing loudly on a phonograph to cover the violent sound, as in the Dassin film. Even his own guards are disgusted by Rickey's brutality. Later, we are treated to scenes of stool-pigeons and the revenge exacted on them by fellow prisoners. Things start getting more out of hand as a new, well-meaning head guard (David Brian of THE DAMNED DON'T CRY) tries to introduce a more tolerant approach. Steve Cochran is billed as the film's star, but his character, Chuck Daniels, does not come into his own until well past the mid-point. Daniels is a prisoner famed for several previous escapes. And in Folsom he does not disappoint. It's great fun watching Daniels lead a daring escape attempt. And the film has a satisfying final payoff. Cochran, De Corsia, Brian, Picerni are terrific, at the top of their acting game. Also great in the cast: Philip Carey and Edward Norris as nasty Sgt. Hart. James Griffith (the 'Zachary Scott of the Bs') makes a notable stool-pigeon. William Lava's score is attractive and rarely intrusive. Watch this one for the great cast.