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In 1941, Kenyon J. Scudder founded the California Institution for Men at Chino, an experimental "prison without walls," armed guards, uniforms, or gun towers, that is still in existence. The prison’s system devised by Scudder, which appealed to the inmates’ sense of self-respect, attempted to rehabilitate the men rather than punish them.
In 1952, Scudder published his book about his experiences, Prisoners Are People, and was offered $60,000 by a major studio interested in filming the story. Because he wanted to retain story approval, he rejected the offer and instead chose Hall Bartlett to make the film, titled UNCHAINED, because Bartlett was committed to making films that did not emphasize unnecessary sex and violence. Scudder agreed to receive $5,000 before production began and fifteen percent of the film’s profits.
Bartlett spent three months living inside the prison, interviewing inmates and observing, and had his script approved by Scudder and his wife, and the Chino Men’s Council, the committee of elected inmates depicted in the film. The incidents portrayed in the film were either actual events or those that could have occurred. The film was shot on location at Chino, and Bartlett stated that production was a highly cooperative venture in which everyone involved with the film received a copy of the script. Crew members were encouraged to provide input, and Bartlett believed that suggestions given by the crew resulted in a shortened production schedule.
The film had simultaneous premieres in the local Chino theater and the Chino prison, where the mess hall was dressed to look like the lobby of a Hollywood theater and at which several celebrities attended. Scudder’s life was showcased on the NBC television show, "This Is Your Life," on which portions of the film were shown. The film received several awards and merits, among them a special merit award from Parents Magazine, the 1955 National Brotherhood Award for outstanding contribution to the cause of brotherhood, and a special award from the Southern California Motion Picture Council. The film was shown at the London Prison Congress and the World Prison Congress in Geneva, where it was described as the “true story of the greatest advance in prison history."
Playing the role of “Bill Howard” was singer Todd Duncan, who had portrayed “Porgy” in the original Broadway production of "Porgy and Bess." Duncan sang a hymn and the film's title song, “Unchained Melody,” which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song but lost to “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing.” "Unchained Melody" was selected as the number one top song of 1955 through a compilation of all music popularity contests, according to a January 1956 Hollywood Reporter news item. Three recordings of the song were made in the rhythm and blues style by Roy Hamilton on the Columbia label, Al Hibbler on Decca, and Leroy Lovett on the Atlantic label. It was also recorded by Liberace, who performed it on his television show, and Les Baxter and his orchestra. It remained a standard through the years and its popularity revived when it was featured in the 1990 Paramount release GHOST, which was directed by Jerry Zucker and starred Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. That film featured another popular version of the song as performed by the Righteous Brothers.
UNCHAINED has not been released on any home video format. Although the film was distributed by Warner Bros., Hall Barlett was the original sole copyright holder of the film. Upon renewal of the film's copyright in 1982, ownership was transferred to National Telefilm Associates. That would make it the current property of Paramount.
Thanks so much for the wealth of information regarding this important title. It has been added to our Pinterest Board!
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I was hoping, Bob, you could look into the film When the Legends Die with a superb performance by Richard Widmark and possibly give us a clue as to why this fine film still has no home video release (to my knowledge anyway).
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Posted: |
May 31, 2019 - 2:52 AM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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BEAU JAMES is subtitled "The Life and Times of Jimmy Walker," and is a biopic of James J. "Jimmy" Walker (1881--1946), who was the one-hundreth mayor of New York City. The film starred Bob Hope as the flamboyant and somewhat corrupt mayor. Following director Melville Shavelson's and screenwriter Jack Rose's THE SEVEN LITTLE FOYS (1955), 1957's BEAU JAMES marked Hope's second appearance in a role with strong dramatic elements. Although Hope received generally favorable reviews for his performance, his biographers have noted that he was disappointed that his work in this film did not garner more critical attention; he never again attempted a dramatic role.
The film has not had a video release in any format. Originally copyrighted by Hope Enterprises, Inc. and Scribe (Shavelson-Rose) Productions, when the film's copyright was renewed in 1984, ownership passed to Paramount Pictures. But this may be another case where story rights are holding up a video release. The film was based on a 1949 biography of Walker, Beau James, authored by Gene Fowler. When that book came up for copyright renewal in the pre-video year of 1976, ownership passed to Fowler's three children, Gene Fowler, Jr., Jane Fowler Morrison, and Will Fowler.
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