BRUBAKER!

This week we move to a grim drama based on the true story former prison administrator Thomas Murton to reform Tucker and Cummins Prison Farms in Arkansas in 1967-68. Robert Redford stars as Henry Brubaker, a street-smart, socially conscionable warden who is recruited to reform a filthy, run down Southern prison notorious for unspeakable corruption and violence that has deeper political implications. Redford was on a tight schedule for this film after wrapping production in his directorial debut of "Ordinary People". He chose this gritty role because he felt that it was a socially important film that had to be made. I had almost forgotten until I started my background research that it was filmed entirely on location in Ohio. Locations included Columbus; the abandoned Junction City Prison Farm in Junction City, Ohio (that served as "Wakefield"); Lancaster and New Lexington, Ohio.

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Brubaker enters "Wakefield" prison posing as a convict to personally witness the severe abuses. Only after he defuses a tense confrontation with a crazed inmate (Morgan Freeman), Brubaker reveals to the guards and administrators that he's the new warden, assigned by the governor to infiltrate the facility undercover. After setting up office, Brubaker begins to dismantle decades of secrets maintained by inmates serving as "Trustees" to begin installing policies and procedures, including an inmate board to help initiate humane changes. With the help of an initially reluctant and skeptical chief trustee (Yaphet Kotto) and a compassionate ally (Jane Alexander), the new warden effects some positive change, but powerful business interests collude with corrupt politicians when his reform begins to threaten their financial bottom line.

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You'd never know it, but this fact-based prison drama was the result of a troubled production that saw original director Bob Rafelson replaced with Stuart Rosenberg Cool Hand Luke (1967) and The Amityville Horror (1979). Nevertheless, BRUBAKER was an acclaimed release and an Oscar-nominated, career-finale triumph for co-screenwriter Arthur A. Ross, creator of Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954) and father of successful writer/director Gary Ross.

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The Cast: Robert Redford....Henry Brubaker; Yaphet Kotto....Richard 'Dickie' Coombes; Jane Alexander....Lillian Gray; Murray Hamilton....John Deach; David Keith....Larry Lee Bullen; Morgan Freeman....Walter; Matt Clark ....Roy Purcell; Tim McIntire....Huey Rauch; Richard Ward....Abraham, Old Prisoner; Jon Van Ness....Zaranska; M. Emmet Walsh....C.P. Woodward; Albert Salmi....Rory Poke;Linda Haynes....Carol; Everett McGill....Eddie Caldwell; Val Avery....Wendel.

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A personal note here: A close friend of mine is the Cousin of Val Avery who has had more character roles than any actor I can think of. I can also remember my date to this film. A much "older woman", 28! She looked like a petite Suzanne Somers from "Three's Company". We were actually trying to get in to see Dustin Hoffman in "Kramer vs. Kramer", but it was sold out. So we saw this film. A toast to Christina! This girl was a hottie and scared me off by raising the topic of marriage on the fourth date. I moved to Texas the following year and had my interesting introduction to "Dixie Chick" Martie MaGuire (yawn). But we've already been there on this BLOG. The point? "Six degrees of separation", even if it's as tepid as four day old tea left out on the kitchen table.

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The final scene of this film is simply gripping and totally awe-inspiring. I'll warn you now, if you fast-forward to it, you will ruin the film experience. It must be seen from beginning to end. I saw it in the theater three times! The build-up to it is a rush, and a personal triumph for Redford's character. Amazingly, Redford came to Cincinnati to promote it. (I'm surprised concert tours even stop here!). But I digress...The film was nominated in 1981 for an Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay--Written Directly for the Screen: W.D. Richter & Arthur A. Ross; Winner of the Golden Globe Award for Best Sound Editing - Dialogue. Richard Ward is saluted for his many years in film. Yaphet Kotto is fantastic!

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ENJOY IT!