The Glass House [DVD]

When I first saw this movie it was on regular television, and I was somewhat shocked as to the content. It wasn’t that it bothered me, I was just taken aback that the subject matter was pretty rough & something not usually seen on network TV. For me it was an “in theater” experience. This is a very gritty look at the American prison system, & I can’t help but wonder if anything has changed very much over the years. The story here is a very good one, & it’s matched by the performances. The standout is Vic Morrow as the cruel, monstrous leader of the more ruthless convicts. I’ve been a fan of his since his debut in “Blackboard Jungle,” as gang leader Artie West, & in my eyes his performance as Hugo Slocum in “Glass House” is Artie West all grown up & even more of a beast than he was in “Jungle.” He terrorizes in virtually every scene he’s in, stealing the movie, & shows once more what a tremendous and underrated actor he was. For those who like prison movies, this is one not to miss. Just be prepared for the rough stuff which, for the time it was released, is as graphic as it could get.

Underlying meanings cannot be seen clearly by bystanders, its like looking through a thick glass panel where everything on the surface look glossy but what lurks beneath requires deeper insights into the system and human nature. A prison lock-up that does more harm than good gets the "big" cover up from people on the take, and people who wants to see justice done but were held back by the legal system. So everyone in the know, turns a blind eye believing that thorny issues will resolve itself. Vic Morrow was at his "chilling" best as Hugo Slocum, inmate leader. Failing to intimidate fellow inmates and naive new arrivals, Slocum would resort to violence, often resulting in death or severe injuries to his victims. Vic Morrow's portrayal of Slocum was three-dimensional. On the surface, Slocum looked every bit the disgusting leader, nothing-will-faze-him type. In the next instant, he was showering his affection on a young naive newcomer whom he thought would be a good substitute for the lack of the feminine touch in a man only prison. When Slocum failed to get the boy's cooperation, he let the other inmates have a go (brute force was used), I felt a sense of nausea surging through me, not so much the graphics, but the thought of what actually happened really turned my insides out. At this time, the camera panned to Slocum lying on his cell bed cringing and feeling restless, but whatever remorsefulness that Slocum may have had, did not make him attempt to stop it. Not recommended for children under 16. "Violence lovers" however, will be greatly disappointed for the lack of action. It is an art film with serious undertones. Not for the faint hearted. Superb acting especially by Vic Morrow and good support from Alan Alda, Billy Dee Willams and to a lesser extent, Glu Gulager.

you've seen this story before. you've heard this dialog before. BUT you have never seen or heard it better. this was not only an excellently directed film, but the great acting bug must have bitten the entire cast. there were no small actors here...only fine actors in every role...small parts and large roles as with alda and morrow and b.d. williams. morrow may have played a part he's done before, but here he is toning down his style and becomes even more frightening and loathsome. a gifted actor. dean jagger flawlessly makes a small part strong. i'll quit now by saying there were no little actors here. enjoy.

The TV movie adaptation of Truman Capote's novel brings the horrific realities of prison life like no other film does. The movie addresses the various hardships that an individual can face while doing time in prison. The hardships can stem from being exposed to a tight brutal gang network within or from a corrupt correctional system. The movie is in essence seen through the eyes of rookie correctional officer Brian (Clu Gulager). Brian is at first enthusiastic about his new job as a prison guard. It however does not take long before he becomes disillusioned with the police corruption he witnesses. The movie itself however centers on two new inmates, Jonathan Paige (Alan Alda) a college professor convicted of manslaughter and Allan Campbell, a young teenager arrested for drugs. Jonathan and Allan quickly become friends despite their different backgrounds. Unfortunately Allan also befriends Hugo Slocum (Vic Morrow) the prison gang leader who has in fact taken a physical liking toward him. In the meantime, Jonathan accepts a position as a pharmacist and meets Lennox (Billy Dee Williams), a black idealist. It is in the pharmacy that Jonathan first collides with Hugo by refusing to become a fellow supplier in the drug trafficking business. Jonathan further draws Hugo's ire when he begins to protest Hugo's advances on Allan. The building tension between Jonathan and Hugo is such that both Lennox and Brian notice and become involved in their own way. It is only a matter of time before Jonathan decides that he has no alternative but to have a deadly confrontation with Hugo. The movie as a whole is very grim and unsettling. There is at least one rape and one suicide scene in addition to the various gang hit killings throughout the movie. It is a movie well worth watching although some viewers may find it to be depressing and disturbing. In a bizarre coincidence, there is a scene in which Vic Morrow's character states that he can get anything he wants in the prison except for a helicopter and a woman. It is a tragic irony that 10 years later, a helicopter propeller would kill Vic Morrow while he simultaneously held a girl during the filming of the Twilight Zone the Movie. The Glass House is as accurate a portrayal of prison life as can be put to film according to former inmates. Movies such as "The Shawshank Redemption" which are appealing and well known do not accurately or fully depict the harsh realities of the brutal interaction between the various sorts of prisoners. It is a pity that this movie is not better known. It is perhaps for this sad fact that "The Glass House" was only released on DVD for a limited time.

Vic Morrow as Hugo Slocum (the best name for any bad guy prisoner in any prison film) was downright scary. That they filmed it in the actual setting with actual cons made it that much more real, especially considering this was a made-for-TV movie without f-words or any other profanity. One wonders if Stephen King was a fan of this film as it has similar character relationships with "The Shawshank Redemption" ; The Jonathan Page and Andy Dufresne characters ,the rape scene here and the assault on Andy by Boggs (a very similar character to Hugo Slocum) in "Shawshank". Looking back, I don't remember any other TV movie allowed to show this kind of graphic and brutal violence in 1972. A must see without question, especially for anyone looking to become a criminal.

I haven't seen this movie in a long time. It lived up to exactly what I remembered. My wife had never seen it before so we watched it together. We both like Alan Alda. He has a great role in this picture. My wife was very surprised with the ending. We both enjoyed watching it. Even though it's been years since this movie was made its content still fits issues that occur in prisons today. I highly recommend watching it!

There's just no way a published author like TCapote wrote this lifeless waste of time. Wyatt Cooper is listed as the writer along with TKWynn. I don't know which one of them can't spell the word 'fictitious' but the fact a misspelled word ended up in the opening scrawl says a lot about the quality standards of the production. The acting is by Qualude, the dialogue has all the snap of a dentist appointment and there's zero plot. I will say the entire experience was worth it to watch a gawky, clumsy Alan Alda try to run down a hallway and perform in a fight scene. Hilarious! If you're an Alan Alda fan, then you already know disappointment, but this one sets a new low.

There is nothing uplifting in this Capote storyline. A dark movie with some excellent acting but a nails-scraping-the-chalkboard musical score. Homosexuality, drug flow and corruption highlighted within the prison system. If it's superficial feel good movies you are seeking pass this one up.

Suspenseful, gritty & sometimes uncomfortable... the acting is first-rate - Morrow is creepy & funny at the same time while Alda is always excellent!!! The storyline is exciting with an uncompromising ending & the themes in the movie will be familiar to anyone who watches prison movies, but it's the fine cast & direction that make this a movie to remember. According to Alan Alda in his autobiography "Never Have Your Dog Stuffed - and Other Things I've Learned" - the film was shot in a real prison using real inmates as extra's & two prisoners even took Alda hostage, but apparently the two prisoners were only joking!!!

Initialement mis en scène pour la télévision par Tom Gries (Will Penny, Les 100 Fusils...), ce film adapte un roman assez méconnu de Truman Capote. Il s'agit d'un film de prison, dépeignant de manière réaliste l'univers carcéral. Pas sur que les choses aient depuis évolué dans le bon sens. Un excellent film méconnu. Uniquement en VOST français.

Excellent Seller! Excellent old movie! I highly recommend!

It's a great movie

Der Fernsehfilm mit Alan Alda ist noch nach den ganzen Jahren spannend. Die Leistung der Fernsehdarsteller ist sehenswert, obwohl es danach genug Gefängnisfilme im Kino mit gleicher Thematik gab. Leider läßt die Qualität der Aufnahme zu wünschen übrig: einige Hänger beim Ton sind ärgerlich. Und Extras gab es natürlich keine, was aber beim Alter des Filmes nicht anders zu erwarten war. Aber volle Empfehlung. Leider keine deutsche Fassung.