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Monday, May 13, 2019

MEN OF SAN QUENTIN 1942 (SINISTER CINEMA)

William Beaudine directed this strange prison drama.

I say strange because there is actual prison footage combined with studio shot scenes and that is something I thought was kind of off the wall.

J. Anthony Hughes stars as Jack Holden, a young prison guard who is trying to fight corruption at the famous prison in San Francisco Bay. The corruption and murder get so out of hand that a guard named Saunderson (Charles Middleton) tries to get in on the action, only to be killed by a prisoner who has nothing to lose.

Holden is framed, but clears his name and the prison board wants to make him Warden after he has told them of all the prison reform he believes in.He easily wins the job and soon puts his plans into motion.

He gets rid of the solitary confinement cells, starts a prison education program and much more. Before you know it, the morale has picked up and the murder rate has gone way down.

Martin Mooney wrote the screenplay and he is the same man who wrote the classic film "Detour" which became PRC Studios best known film. This little PRC film isn't too bad and it's unique to say the least.

I would recommend it to fans of the genre and anyone who wants to see a different kind of prison picture.

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