CONVICTS 4 (1962)

With a cast list that reads like the MidNite Movie from Hell (or is it Heaven?), Ben Gazzara, Sammy Davis Jr., Stuart Whitman, Broderick Crawford, Vincent Price, Rod Steiger (as Tiptoes!), Ray Walston, Timothy Carey (even more florid than usual), and Jacks Kruschen & Albertson, this fact-inspired prisoner’s reformation tale ought to be better . . . or at least more entertaining.  Instead, enfeebled direction by well-regarded scripter Millard Kaufman (he never tried again) keeps this from getting off the ground.  (Distributor Allied Artists hoping to catch back-draft from classy, just released prison redemption drama THE BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ; Burt Lancaster/John Frankenheimer.  That one straying even farther from the facts.)  Here, Gazzara gets a last minute reprieve from Death Row and finds a champion in warden-to-be Stuart Whitman.  Or will if he survives tough wardens Crawford & Steiger.  Though Gazzara proves hardly worthy of second chances (or third or fourth), Whitman proves just as stubborn to find the good hiding inside.  (How?  Why?)  But after three decades of bad moves, Gazzara finally finds a way out thru painting.  Turns out prison commissioner Vincent Price is also an art expert!  It’s a one-minute scene, likely filmed in an afternoon.  Also the likely shooting schedule for Steiger & Crawford.  (Someone calling in a few favors?)  But neither the weirdly strong acting contingent, nor top talent like Oscar-winners composer Leonard Rosenman* and lenser Joseph F. Biroc able to prop up Kaufman’s missing mise-en-scène.

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID:  *How did the Gazzara character end up on Death Row for murder without ‘malice aforethought?’  Would it even have been considered Murder One?  Not pre-planned; not even his gun.  Get this man an appeal and a new lawyer!

SCREWY THOUGHT OF THE DAY:  *Note that Rosenman, whose top scores came early (EAST OF EDEN; THE COBWEB; REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE - all 1955) was Oscar’d on BOUND FOR GLORY/’77 and BARRY LYNDON/’76.  Academy voters undoubtedly confusing him with Woody Guthrie and Franz Schubert.