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Unchained is a 1955 prison film based on the non-fiction book Prisoners are People by Kenyon J. Scudder. The film is most remembered for its theme song, "Unchained Melody".
The film was based on the career of Kenyon J. Scudder, former supervisor at Chino prison in California, as detailed in Scudder's book. Former football player Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch played the lead character, while other inmates were played by Chester Morris and Jerry Paris (later of The Dick Van Dyke Show), among others. Others in the cast included Peggy Knudsen and Barbara Hale, who appeared as women visiting the prisoners. Jazz musician Dexter Gordon has a small, uncredited role in the film, that of a saxophone player in the prison jazz band.
The film was shot at the correctional facility in Chino, California, where Gordon was then serving time for possession of heroin.
Original Release
01/19/1955
US Release
01/19/1955
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Elroy 'Crazylegs' Hirsch | Steve Davitt |
Barbara Hale | Mary Davitt |
Chester Morris | Kenyon Scudder / Kenyon J. Scudder |
Todd Duncan | Bill Howard |
Johnny Johnston | Eddie Garrity |
Peggy Knudsen | Elaine |
Jerry Paris | Joe Ravens |
John Qualen | Leonard Haskins |
Tim Considine | Win Davitt |
Sam Flint | Parole Board |
Directors
Writers
Hall Bartlett, Kenyon J. Scudder
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Elroy 'Crazylegs' Hirsch | Steve Davitt |
Barbara Hale | Mary Davitt |
Chester Morris | Kenyon Scudder / Kenyon J. Scudder |
Todd Duncan | Bill Howard |
Johnny Johnston | Eddie Garrity |
Peggy Knudsen | Elaine |
Jerry Paris | Joe Ravens |
John Qualen | Leonard Haskins |
Tim Considine | Win Davitt |
Sam Flint | Parole Board |
Art Gilmore | Narrator |
Dexter Gordon | Saxophone Player |
Sol Gorss | Police Captain |
Kathryn Grant | Sally Haskins |
Bill Kennedy | Sanders |
Don Kennedy | Mike Gladstone |
Victor Mowrer | Mess hall instigator |
Henry Nakamura | Jerry Hakara |
Robert Patten | Johnny Swanson |
Stafford Repp | Mr. Miller, Prison Welding Supervisor |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Hall Bartlett | Producer |
Editors
Year | Type | Category | Won |
---|
1956 | Oscar | Best Music, Original Song | Nominated |