The Shawshank Redemption gets my vote...but many will disagree.

Others that might make my list on a day when the 'prison movies' box is taken out my head and there's not a lot in there...

Papillon, The Green Mile,American History X, The Birdman Of Alcatraz.

Any more? I'm sure there are, but my box is empty.

Midnight Express
Shawshank
Papillon
Escape from Alcatraz
Green Mile
Birdman of Alcatraz

How about Vile Pervert; The Musical guys?

Could it be strictly classed a prison movie JK? A brilliant satire on the judiciary, but not a prison movie. Well that's my view.

A little bit of everything FC, a bit like my life!

Lots of stuff; none of it very good but all of it interesting.

Scum... now that was a good movie. Showed how the system abused young offenders for its own political ends.

BRILLIANT FILM!!!

JK...forget a song...how about writing a script about your time inside?

I think I know the script to "Lock Up" by heart now, aftre the number of times it's repeated on TV. "Shawshank Redemption" has decent acting and story but I get turned off by the language. I know it's probably onlt a tiny reflection of what it's like in real life, but the movie would work fine without it.

"Escape from Alcatraz" and "Birdman of Alcatraz" were two of my favourites.

There were a few good British b/w movies set in prisons, none of which I can remember the titles of. One featured Charlie Drake as a locksmith. I normally can't abide Charlie Drake but that one movie was ok.

Al wrote:
I think I know the script to "Lock Up" by heart now, aftre the number of times it's repeated on TV. "Shawshank Redemption" has decent acting and story but I get turned off by the language. I know it's probably onlt a tiny reflection of what it's like in real life, but the movie would work fine without it.

"Escape from Alcatraz" and "Birdman of Alcatraz" were two of my favourites.

There were a few good British b/w movies set in prisons, none of which I can remember the titles of. One featured Charlie Drake as a locksmith. I normally can't abide Charlie Drake but that one movie was ok.

Lock up I didn't like. It glamourised prison life to a certain degree, and I don't like Stallone. Sorry but I don't. First Blood is the only film of his I can watch. I always feel Stallone films are so very opaque and shallow. The other Rambo films after First Blood were abhorrent.

Apologies to JK...Vile Pervert is of course one man's journey through the system..so to all extent and purposes a prison movie.

Porridge, the movie. Ronnie Barker at his bestest.

I didn't realise how accurate Porridge was until I did my own time. Stepping into Gloucester prison was like stepping into the TV series. I spent only a fortnight there before being transfered to Risley which was much more modern. I think I'd go for the Birdman of Alcatraz because it has a very prison like atmosphere and it raises many important questions about justice and the treatment of inmates.

Scum..I agree...absolutely shocking at the time and one of the first films to really show how teens were brutalised in the system. Has anything changed ?

Followed by Vile Pervert which manages to be entertaining whilst getting the point accross.

As for High Campery..'Prisoner'..the mad Aussie TV series about a women's prison. Get's better with age and knocks into a cocked hat all those other unwatchable Oz soaps..Home & Away etc.

Sammy Davis Jnr said it was his favourite TV show !

Going back a long way - the wonderful 'Yield to the Night' with Diana Dors, who really showed what a good actress she was.
On TV - 'Within These Walls' with the fabulous Googie Withers.

Apart from those - Scum
Shawshank
Escape from Alcatraz
Birdman of Alcatraz

oh I must try and see that ! I'm so glad someone realises what a terrific actress Diana Dors was:cheer:

Also a lovely lady whose friendship as a teenager I shall always cherish.