Unchained Reviews

The facts upon which this prison drama is based are more interesting than the film itself. UNCHAINED tells the story of a group of prisoners in the unwalled, 2,600-acre prison farm at Chino, California, where the men are treated like humans instead of numbers. There are no armed guards, no lockups, and no uniforms. The idea is that the criminals will lose their desire to escape and accept the fact that they must do their time. Hirsch is imprisoned at Chino and, as expected, soon becomes used to the idea. Morris turns in a controlled performance as the kindly warden who is more interested in the honor system than in violence. Includes the Oscar nominated tune "Unchained Melody" by Alex North and Hy Zaret. The film premiered at a preview attended by press, prisoners, and guests in the mess hall of its subject location, the California Institution for Men at Chino, California. The 31-year-old producer-director-writer, social reformer Bartlett, had previously made two films, one of them--CRAZYLEGS (1953)--a biography of his leading actor here, former football great Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch.