Our Prisons
Moving Image:Our Prisons
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Our Prisons is a short film from 1956 released on 16mm. It is held in the Prelinger Archives collection.
Footage of state prisons ca. 1956 in Kansas.
PA-2003 Our Prisons
00:00:02:19 - 00:29:59:18 B/W Silent 1956
"Our Prisons" (A & B Rolls) Documentary of prisons and reformatory institutions in Kansas and Michigan. Building structures & interiors - Bunks, cots, cell blocks, cafeterias, uniformed guards, inmates, weapons, prison jobs, classes, security, law and order. (lots of black between many shots.)
00:00:02:19 - 00:03:20:14 B/W Silent 1956
SFU. ZO Man in suit sits in an armchair & reads by the fireplace in a fake living room setting. He turns to camera, starts talking. Talking head host. He stands & introduces film.
00:03:20:15 - 00:06:10:24 B/W Silent 1956
Male inmates in uniforms walk in prison courtyard w/ large brick institutional building in BG. EXT sign: Kansas Industrial School for Girls. PAN over grounds. EXT two brick buildings. INT bedroom w/ rag doll on bed - reform schools. Host talks. (black frames between shots)
00:04:56:25 - 00:06:50:21 B/W Silent 1956
EXT Castle-like brick prison. Uniformed guard walks into cell block. Inmate sits on top bunk - guard shuts gate in his cell. CU daily count of prison population by race & length of sentence (99 life termers). Guards look out from brick turret watchtower. Labeled weapons storage area- gas grenades, rifles in case of prison riots. Uniformed prison guards aim pistols on firing line for target practice. SWISH PAN to targets.
00:06:56:09 - 00:09:03:15 B/W Silent 1956
Prison life - work & occupations. Inmate in metal shop sharpens metal piece on grinding press. Inmate hangs wet laundry on clothesline. EXT Brick bunkers outdoors. INT sleeping quarters w/ dormitory-style beds. New Kansas state automobile license plates move on conveyor belt. CU cooks serve food into inmates' trays on line in prison cafeteria 9could pass for factory cafeteria). WS inmates eat at desks. Man serves bread on long pole. Inmates pick up towels from laundry counter. Teacher conducts class in prison.
00:09:08:07 - 00:10:33:22 B/W Silent 1956
Man released from prison. EXT Hospital sign. Uniformed guard opens door as guard escorts inmate out. CU prisoner signs ledger at window, receives five dollars in cash back. Released inmate & guard walk down outdoor steps. Guard signals to sentry over gate. Guard walks released inmate through gate. Freedom.
00:15:11:03 - 00:18:18:07 B/W Silent 1956
CU legs of male inmates walking through opened door of prison cell. (More black leader) Card listing penal institutions & industrial schools where film was shot State Industrial Reformatory, Hutchinson, Kansas. State Penitentiary for Men & Women in Lansing, Michigan. Industrial School for Boys & Girls in Topeka, Kansas.
00:18:51:27 - 00:22:10:07 B/W Silent 1956
B-roll. Sign- Kansas Industrial School for Boys. EXT: PAN over brick building. EXT: sign- Kansas Industrial Farm for Women. INT doors in hallway. MS rag doll on bed blanket. EXT castle-like brick building. CU date of building's construction in 1864. INT PAN long cell blocks inside prison. Good over-the-shoulder POV of uniformed sentry guard looking over prison courtyard. LA sentry stands on platform. Sentry walks along stone wall by outside of prison. Guard lowers key on string for man to enter gate. Guard inspects machine guns. Outdoor targets for shooting practice.
00:22:17:12 - 00:24:58:06 B/W Silent 1956
Prison life. CU hand w/ drill bit in metal shop. WS rows of inmates work at sewing machines. EXT building. CU inmate's hand moving car license plates from hooks to conveyor belt. Inmates work in industrial metal shop. Inmates stand in line. INT place settings in empty prison cafeteria. PAN empty shower stalls. CU teacher's hand writing fractions on classroom chalk board. Inmates under blankets on cots in sleeping quarters. CU Man hands clothing to inmate (restituting belongings upon him completing his sentence). CU man opening cell door w/ key.
00:25:42:22 - 00:29:59:18 B/W Silent 1956
Talking head host. Titles.Our Prisons | |
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Produced by | 0 |
Production company | 0 |
Distributed by | 0 |
Release date | 1956 |
Language | English |
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