Unchained

1955
1h 15m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

A convict in a medium-security prison is torn between his need to finish his sentence and get back to his wife and family, and his desire to escape the confines of prison.A convict in a medium-security prison is torn between his need to finish his sentence and get back to his wife and family, and his desire to escape the confines of prison.A convict in a medium-security prison is torn between his need to finish his sentence and get back to his wife and family, and his desire to escape the confines of prison.

Director
- Hall Bartlett
Writers
- Hall Bartlett
- Kenyon J. Scudder
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

239

YOUR RATING

Director
- Hall Bartlett
Writers
- Hall Bartlett
- Kenyon J. Scudder
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total

Photos13

+ 6

Top cast21

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Elroy 'Crazylegs' Hirsch

Steve Davitt
(as Elroy Hirsch)

Barbara Hale

Mary Davitt

Chester Morris

Kenyon J. Scudder

Todd Duncan

Bill Howard

Johnny Johnston

Eddie Garrity

Peggy Knudsen

Elaine

Jerry Paris

Joe Ravens

John Qualen

Leonard Haskins

Tim Considine

Win Davitt

Sam Flint

Parole Board
(uncredited)

Art Gilmore

Narrator
(voice)
(uncredited)

Dexter Gordon

Saxophone Player
(uncredited)

Sol Gorss

Police Captain
(uncredited)

Kathryn Grant

Sally Haskins
(uncredited)

Bill Kennedy

Sanders
(uncredited)

Don Kennedy

Mike Gladstone
(uncredited)

Victor Mowrer

Mess hall instigator
(uncredited)

Henry Nakamura

Jerry Hakara
(uncredited)

Director
- Hall Bartlett
Writers
- Hall Bartlett
- Kenyon J. Scudder
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The song "Unchained Melody" popularized in the US by Al Hibbler and Roy Hamilton, and in Britain by Jimmy Young in 1955, the year of the film ,and later by Vito and The Salutations as well as The Righteous Brothers in the mid 1960s, first surfaced on the soundtrack of this movie as composed by Alex North.

Goofs
Opening narration said that this is the story was photographed at Chino prison as it happened, yet this film, which is just over an hour, takes place over several days.

Quotes
Narrator: [opening narration] This is Steve Davitt, convicted of a felony in the State of California. His destination: Chino, Pomona Valley. This is the largest honor prison in the world. Two thousand men live here. Murderers, armed robbers, forgers, safe-crackers, petty thieves. But there are no guns to hold them, no walls, no armed guards, just a man and an idea. A man named, Scudder; the idea: prisoners are people. This is their story. Photographed entirely at Chino, as it happened.

Crazy credits
Suggested by the Life and Work of KENYON J. SCUDDER and by His Book "PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE"

Connections
Referenced in You Bet Your Life: Episode #6.31 (1956)

Soundtracks
Unchained (Lonely River)
Music by Alex North
Lyrics by Hy Zaret
Performed by Todd Duncan

User reviews14

Review

Featured review

10/10

Why isn't this available on DVD?

With all the junk that has "bonus" material available when it goes straight to video, it's a shame that this lost gem isn't released yet. I saw it on TV when I was in my teens. I loved the song. It's the version that comes to mind first for me, before the Platters or the Righteous Brothers version. The plot details are a little hazy, which is why I was hoping that it had made the cut.

Would whoever holds the rights to this movie please release it on DVD? I'd really enjoy seeing it again. It doesn't have the star power of The Defiant Ones, perhaps, but it was well-written and acted. The fact that it was filmed 'on location' at Chino when this wasn't common.

Thanks to everyone else here that's posted about the movie.