- Unchained (film)
Infobox Film
name = Unchained
caption =
director =Hall Bartlett
producer =Hall Bartlett
writer = Screenplay by:Hall Bartlett
Novel by:Kevin J. Scrudder
starring =Elroy Hirsch Barbara Hale Chester Morris Todd Duncan Johnny Johnston Peggy Knudsen Jerry Paris John Qualen
music =Alex North (song "Unchained Melody ")
cinematography =Virgil E. Miller
editing =Cotton Warburton
distributor =Warner Bros. Pictures
released =January 19 ,1955 (USA )
runtime = 75 min.
language = English
budget =
imdb_id = 0048762"Unchained" is a 1955
prison film based on thenon-fiction book "Prisoners are People " byKenyon J. Scudder . The film is the origin of the song "Unchained Melody ".The film was based on the career of Kenyon J. Scudder, former supervisor at
Chino , as detailed in Scudder's book. Most of the scenes were actually filmed on location at the prison. Former football playerElroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch played the lead character, while other inmates were played byChester Morris andJerry Paris (later of "The Dick Van Dyke Show "), among others. Others in the cast includedPeggy Knudsen andBarbara Hale , who appeared as women visiting the prisoners. Hale went on to star asDella Street in the long-running "Perry Mason" television series.The film was originally released by
Warner Bros. Pictures in 1955 and is believed to be in thepublic domain as thecopyright has expired. Though the copyright expired many years earlier, it was renewed in the 1980s byNational Telefilm Associates , the rights to the film are now owned byParamount Pictures . [Performed a search at the website for theUnited States Copyright Office .]Plot synopsis
Steve Davitt is in a medium security prison and is struggling with two options: finishing his sentence and seeing his wife and family or escaping the prison.
Oscar nomination
* Best Music, Original Song: "Unchained Melody" - Music by
Alex North ; Lyrics byHy Zaret Trivia
*
Jazz musicianDexter Gordon has a small, uncredited role in the film, that of asaxophone player in the prison jazz band. The film was shot at the correctional facility inChino ,California , where Gordon was then serving time for possession ofheroin .References
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