Riot (1969 film)

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Riot
Riot FilmPoster.jpeg
Directed by Buzz Kulik
Written by James Poe
Based onnovel The Riot by Frank Elli
Produced by William Castle
Starring Gene Hackman
Jim Brown
Mike Kellin
Gerald S. O'Loughlin
Ben Carruthers
Clifford David
Bill Walker
Jerry Thompson
Ricky Summers
Mr. Gerri
John Neiderhauser
Frank Eyman
Cinematography Robert B. Hauser
Music by Krzysztof Komeda
Production
company
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date
  • 1969 (1969)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.3 million (US/ Canada rentals) [1]

Riot is a 1969 American drama film produced by William Castle, directed by Buzz Kulik and starring Gene Hackman and Jim Brown.

Contents

Plot

While the warden (real-life warden Frank A. Eyman) of a state prison is away, the isolation block erupts and 35 of the most violent criminals (led by Gene Hackman) stage a riot and take over their portion of the prison. Cully Briston (Jim Brown), in for five years and awaiting his eventual parole, wants no part of the riot. He impulsively gets involved, defending a prison guard and protecting him from the maniacs in the block.

Cast

ActorRole
Jim Brown Cully Briston [2]
Gene Hackman Red Fraker [2]
Mike Kellin Bugsy
Gerald S. O'Loughlin Grossman
Ben Carruthers Surefoot
Clifford David Mary Sheldon
Clair Sullivan the Doctor[ citation needed ]

Production

The film is based on a non-fiction novel by Frank Elli, which chronicled an actual riot that took place in an Arizona prison.

In addition to using real-life warden Frank A. Eyman, the production utilized a number of real-life prisoners as extras.

The film was partially shot at the Yuma Territorial Prison.

Release

The film was given a theatrical release in the United States by Paramount Pictures in 1969.

The film was given a belated release on VHS by Paramount Home Video in 1993.

The film was sub-licensed to Olive Films by Paramount and released on DVD by in 2010. It was released on blu ray in Germany in 2022 by Wicked Vision as Black Cinema Edition #12.

See also

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References

  1. "Big Rental Films of 1969", Variety, 7 January 1970 p 15
  2. 1 2 "Riot". IMDb . 9 May 1969.

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