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Prison Drama

The book of Papillon is mint. I've read it loads of times.
Was promoted as a true story on release, but its not. Henri Chiarre wrote it as a novel based on his experiences in prison, but the publisher said it would sell better if he said it was autobiographical- and he was quite right.
 
I saw A Sense of Freedom as a very young kid - maybe about 8 (parenting was a little different back then).
I can just recall the protagonist covered in poo in a poo covered cell.

Might track that down- I'd like to watch it as an adult.

Anyone recall the gag in Arrested Development where it says as a little boy George Michael wanted to watch the Wizard of Oz but got confused and watched gritty prison drama Oz - cut to a shot of a little boy watching horrified from behind his blankets
Yes, A Sense Of Freedom is a stunning film - an unexpectedly sensory experience, it zaps the viewer in a similar fashion to, say, Idi I Smotri
 
Maybe the strangest and most atypical prison film is the romantic fantasy Peter Ibbetson from 1935, starring Gary Cooper and Ann Harding. It's about man who goes to prison for killing his lover's husband. The bond between the couple is so strong, they realise that they are able to share dreams and at night they live an entire life in a dream world which they are able to manipulate. Apparently the film was much beloved by surrealist artists of the time, as an example of "amour fou" taken to extremes.

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Best prison films ....A Man Escaped and Hunger.

Best prison series...Escape at Dannemora

Not mentioned yet I don't think....Michael Inside

Absolute bag of shite.....Escape from Pretoria
 
Maybe the strangest and most atypical prison film is the romantic fantasy Peter Ibbetson from 1935, starring Gary Cooper and Ann Harding. It's about man who goes to prison for killing his lover's husband. The bond between the couple is so strong, they realise that they are able to share dreams and at night they live an entire life in a dream world which they are able to manipulate. Apparently the film was much beloved by surrealist artists of the time, as an example of "amour fou" taken to extremes.

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That sounds well worth a watch!
Scrubbers was like the female Scum, starring a young Kathy Burke and a younger Pat Butcher
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That could also be good in a completely different way.

Think I'll try to track them both down. Edit: Yay, they're both on Youtube!

I have to put in a word for the original Prisoner: Cell Block H. While it was generally a low-budget drama that verged on soap, it had some really good acting, memorable characters, and the occasional genuine serious storyline that was told really well.
 
What no mention of Prisoner Cell Block H?
It was mentioned two posts before yours.

Also, Tenko and the first few series of Bad Girls, before it completely turned into a pantomime, were great telly.

For books, I really liked Adrian Tchaikovsky's far future sci fi prison drama, with added monsters, Cage of Souls.
 
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Short Eyes. Saw this nearly 20 years ago. Can't recall the plot, but always remembered the movie poster and tag. Can be viewed on youtube. I do love prison movies and show. First season of prison break was awesome. escape from alcatraz another great movie

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Can't remember if that is the one where I first heard the phrase 'moody whip' to mean stolen car. If it is thats the only thing I can remember about the film altho the fathers/son angle rings a bell.
 
Now that the thread's been bumped, I was going to say that Rebecca in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend goes to jail for a bit, but now I've looked it up and that plotline was actually only one episode, thought it might've been longer. And it's probably not really worth just watching the first episode of the fourth season on its own.
 
Wot no mention to Prisoner Cell Block H yet?

A classic of its time. Wobbly sets and all. Harold Bishop was a warden I think? And of course Joan 'the freak' Ferguson was a great character. Cracking theme tune too.
 
I listened to a podcast about Pam Grier and she had some early low budget prison films which sounded interesting
 
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