BRUTE FORCE (1947) - ♦♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Jules Dassin

Written by - Richard Brooks (based on a novel by Robert Patterson)

Starring - Burt Lancaster, Hume Cronyn, Charles Bickford, Yvonne DeCarlo, Ann Blyth, Ella Raines, Anita Colby

"A definitive prison drama, that helped shape many similar that were to come. Yet, BRUTE FORCE by JULES DASSIN is often underrated, perhaps in favour of his more celebrated film RIFIFI, which he was to make almost a decade later. 

Brute Force is a play on a familiar structure – prisoners revolt against the oppressing and hateful guards, particularly one who seeks a rise to warden through manipulative and despicable ways. 

BURT LANCASTER stars as one of the men who eventually leads an escape plan. But aside from the escape gimmick, there is a deeply rewarding use of character study through a series of flashbacks that deepens and strengthens audience connection with the story and makes the action packed finale all the more intense."

Drama, USA