JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonShock Corridor (1963)
October 13th 2006 03:48
Shock Corridor
DVD Cover
Writer/Director:Sam Fuller
Starring:Peter Breck, Constance Towers, Gene Evans, James Best, Larry Tucker
Length:96 mins
Picture:B&W
"Whom God Wishes to destroy...He first makes Mad"-Euripidies
Subversive, B grade exploitation pieces, a master of pulp fiction, Writer/Director Sam Fuller (Naked Kiss, PickUp On South Street, House Of Bamboo, The Big Red One) carved out his own piece of Cinema History.
He was a force of nature, gruff, always chomping on a cigar and stringently sticking to his maxim, “story, story, story”.
Shock Corridor is dark, comedic and looking at conservative 50’s values from the inside out, a prime example of everything Fuller gave to the world.
This highly entertaining piece of Drive In psychodrama sees Journalist Johnny Barrett (Peter Breck) hungry for fame, obsessive and self centred.
Hot to find out the truth about what happens behind closed doors in a madhouse. Johnny pretends to have incestuous feelings for his sister in order to prove he is psychologically troubled and gets himself committed.
“Right about now is when he's supposed to ask me if I hear voices...”-Johnny Barrett
That’s the first five minutes and from there this freight train doesn’t quit, Johnny is thrown into the asylum and meets an endless parade of inmates with memorable disorders (Eg: Cannibal Nymphos, African American white supremacists) and ofcourse, always popular electro shock treatment.
Can Johnny hold on to his sanity? Will he get the story, can he survive inside? You will have to watch to find out.
John Doe Says:
Smart, engrossing and expertly handled, in lesser hands this film would have just been an OTT mess. Thankfully, even at its most absurd the performances and script make it easy to go along for the ride.
Hardened by his experiences as a soldier during WWII, creator Sam Fuller endlessly quested for that next tale. Yarns that hit the floor running, instantly pulling you into the underbelly of human nature and ensuring you had to see what his seedy, complex characters were going to do next.
Challenging taboos and skating around the strict censorship code of the 1950’s and early 60’s. Single-minded, blunt and moving at break neck speed, he struggled to make sense of the darker side of human nature.
Shot in stark Black and White the cinematography is filled with surreal camera angles and makes the visuals as rich as the script. The cast have a good time with these crazy characters and humour leaks through even as the tension is at its most unbearable.
Lovers of unique and influential cinema will appreciate the films daring execution. Those who are looking for a good story will be left dumbstruck at the flair and economy of the script.
Shock Corridor never ceases to amaze me with its sheer audacity and skill at escaping the Hays code. The subject matter and what it has to say about the price of trying to create an America where everyone thinks and acts the same.
The DVD:
Umberella comes through with this rarity, the transfer is respectable and although its not the uncut version (still never released anywhere) still warrants a viewing if not purchase. No extras, though there is rumblings of a criterion collection with making of and commentary, fingers crossed.
Starring:Peter Breck, Constance Towers, Gene Evans, James Best, Larry Tucker
Picture:B&W
"Whom God Wishes to destroy...He first makes Mad"-Euripidies
Subversive, B grade exploitation pieces, a master of pulp fiction, Writer/Director Sam Fuller (Naked Kiss, PickUp On South Street, House Of Bamboo, The Big Red One) carved out his own piece of Cinema History.
He was a force of nature, gruff, always chomping on a cigar and stringently sticking to his maxim, “story, story, story”.
Shock Corridor is dark, comedic and looking at conservative 50’s values from the inside out, a prime example of everything Fuller gave to the world.
This highly entertaining piece of Drive In psychodrama sees Journalist Johnny Barrett (Peter Breck) hungry for fame, obsessive and self centred.
Hot to find out the truth about what happens behind closed doors in a madhouse. Johnny pretends to have incestuous feelings for his sister in order to prove he is psychologically troubled and gets himself committed.
That’s the first five minutes and from there this freight train doesn’t quit, Johnny is thrown into the asylum and meets an endless parade of inmates with memorable disorders (Eg: Cannibal Nymphos, African American white supremacists) and ofcourse, always popular electro shock treatment.
Can Johnny hold on to his sanity? Will he get the story, can he survive inside? You will have to watch to find out.
John Doe Says:
Smart, engrossing and expertly handled, in lesser hands this film would have just been an OTT mess. Thankfully, even at its most absurd the performances and script make it easy to go along for the ride.
Hardened by his experiences as a soldier during WWII, creator Sam Fuller endlessly quested for that next tale. Yarns that hit the floor running, instantly pulling you into the underbelly of human nature and ensuring you had to see what his seedy, complex characters were going to do next.
Challenging taboos and skating around the strict censorship code of the 1950’s and early 60’s. Single-minded, blunt and moving at break neck speed, he struggled to make sense of the darker side of human nature.
Shot in stark Black and White the cinematography is filled with surreal camera angles and makes the visuals as rich as the script. The cast have a good time with these crazy characters and humour leaks through even as the tension is at its most unbearable.
Lovers of unique and influential cinema will appreciate the films daring execution. Those who are looking for a good story will be left dumbstruck at the flair and economy of the script.
Shock Corridor never ceases to amaze me with its sheer audacity and skill at escaping the Hays code. The subject matter and what it has to say about the price of trying to create an America where everyone thinks and acts the same.
The DVD:
Umberella comes through with this rarity, the transfer is respectable and although its not the uncut version (still never released anywhere) still warrants a viewing if not purchase. No extras, though there is rumblings of a criterion collection with making of and commentary, fingers crossed.
"Welcome to the U.S.A. The land where all are born equal."
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Comment by Bob Short
Big fan of this and Naked Kiss. No prisoners taken style movie making!
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Fuller is one of my top 5 directors and I would lie if I didnt say my screenplays try to incorporate his daring.
House Of Bamboo and Underworld USA are superb, that god for Foxtel.
Still endlessly search for a copy of Fixed Bayonets, its one of my life missions to see this film someday.
Comment by Bob Short
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Character Driven and fuelled by dialogue I hope to confront and challenge audiences while providing an entertaining ride.
Thats the dream anyway. I have 8 original stories that I am translating for novel, cinema and comic book form.
Should have my portfolio together bythe end of next year then I plan to assualt the producers and get funding to direct.
Comment by Bob Short
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I hadn't heard of this film, but I'm really keen to see it after your review.
Tracy
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Its completly different to what I described above, its my buddies film not mine.It will run around 50 minutes, He Directed it and we worked on the script together.
Hoping to be finished by January, allowing for me getting my finger out and somehow finding time in my hectic week to sit down and work on it.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I hope you enjoy this crazy little film.
If you dig Shock Corridor be sure to check out The Naked Kiss and Pickup On South Street.
Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I work one day a week at JB Hi Fi so thats where I buy most of my stuff.
Sam Fuller's Shock Corridor, The naked Kiss, Pick Up On South Street and The Big Red One can all be picked up there.
Tracy, your welcome.